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Hartford Parking Authority Launches Redesigned Website

Offers Parking Options, Road Closures

By JESSE RIFKIN

August 07, 2012

HARTFORD –— Want to check the up-to-the-second Hartford traffic situation before heading out for work? Such a feature, and several others, have been added to a redesigned Hartford Parking Authority website.

The site, http://www.hartfordparking.com, features live camera views of I-84 and I-91, as well as updated traffic reports from the state Department of Transportation and road closures from the Metropolitan District. A Hartford map displays symbols over roads: red for a closed road, yellow for a closed lane, green for work in roadway, blue for utility work, purple for paving, and black for night work.

Other new features include online payment (and appeals) for parking citations, online pre-payment for event parking at select parking garages, and a frequently asked questions section.

Former components of the website remain intact, including "News, Improvements & Initiatives," "Meetings & Agendas," and "About HPA." Other features include a table of all city parking rates by location and length of time, a list of Hartford attractions and parking promotions, and a downtown Hartford parking map.

Mark K. McGovern, the chief executive officer of the parking authority, believes the redesign will benefit customers.

"It had been years since our last revamp," McGovern said. "We are looking to be a solutions provider, and that means using the website as a means of trying to educate people."

In particular, McGovern noted the website's use of analytics – to calculate how many people visit the website – as a means of determining what is popular on the site and what is not. He also mentioned the improved methods for paying tickets.

"More people still pay in person than online," he said, "but we are seeing more and more paying online. It might overtake in-person payments soon."

The website redesign was first conceived several months ago, and was designed by the authority's marketing committee.

"The Hartford Parking Authority's goal is to continually improve the parking experience in Hartford and make it more customer friendly," MayorPedro E. Segarrasaid in a news release.

The Hartford Parking Authority was created in 1998, and maintains and operates almost 50 surface lots and indoor garages totaling several thousand parking spaces around Hartford, including the Public Library parking deck, Morgan Street Garage, MAT (Main-Asylum-Trumbull) Garage, and Church Street Garage.