Dynamic parking guidance system in Jena

Good things come to those who wait. Back in March 2014, the majority of Jena's city council voted in favor of introducing a dynamic parking guidance system. After the plans had been shelved for years, Lord Mayor Dr. Thomas Nitzsche and Mayor and Head of Urban Development Christian Gerlitz pushed for their implementation after taking office.

"It was and is a matter close to my heart. And the project has clearly shown what a difference it makes whether the city leadership wants it or not," said Lord Mayor Dr. Thomas Nitzsche. "I would particularly like to thank the municipal service and the urban development department for the implementation and I am delighted that we can now offer Jena residents and our guests support in finding a parking space with the dynamic parking guidance system," continued Nitzsche.

The dynamic system, which records and displays around 2,180 available parking spaces in the city centre, is above all an important contribution to significantly reducing traffic searching for parking spaces, emphasized Mayor Christian Gerlitz. "This system actively contributes to reducing air pollution in Jena and is therefore also a great ecological benefit for the city."

On the main roads, drivers are informed by static advance signs and directed to the Parkring (Fürstengraben - Lutherplatz - Anger - Eisenbahndamm - Knebelstraße - Ernst-Haeckel-Straße - Schillerstraße - Leutragraben), which can be driven on in two directions. There are dynamic parking signs at junctions, which provide information on how many free parking spaces are still available and direct those looking for a parking space. The parking spaces and parking garages Eichplatz, Rathausgasse, Seidelparkplatz, Häckelplatz, PH Goethe-Galerie, PH Neue Mitte, PH City Carree, PH Krautgasse, PH Holzmarktpassage are signposted. The data is recorded via the barrier systems in the parking garages and by means of direction-detecting induction loops in the public parking spaces and is transmitted via the parking data recording devices to the traffic computer, which in turn controls the signs. The current data is also available on the city of Jena's homepage and in the My Jena app.

KSJ plant manager Uwe Feige was delighted with the completion of this project. "With the parking guidance system, we are taking the next big step towards a dynamic traffic guidance system that will contribute to a significant reduction in city traffic. We would also like to thank the Ministry of the Environment in Erfurt for providing the necessary funding."

The costs for the overall "Environmentally sensitive traffic control" project amount to 3.2 million euros, of which 2.7 million euros will come from the state. The aim is to stabilize the flow of traffic and thus minimize exhaust-intensive driving conditions, which will reduce environmental pollution. To this end, several environmentally sensitive measuring points will be installed within Jena, the traffic computer will be upgraded and almost half of all traffic lights will be converted.