Parking guidance sytem extended to Orchard Area

From 31 August 2009, finding a parking space in the Orchard area will be easier when the Land Transport Authority (LTA) extends the Parking Guidance System (PGS) to the area.

The LTA will be installing 11 PGS information panels along major roads leading to the Orchard area. These panels will provide information on the availability of parking spaces at 14 participating developments along Orchard Road, so that motorists are able to plan their route in advance before entering the area.

Empowered with the advance information, motorists can drive directly to the nearest available carpark. This reduces their need to drive around in circles looking for parking lots and helps to promote a more efficient use of limited parking space.

Should the information panels show that there are few available parking spaces, motorists may then choose to park outside the area and take the public transport.

The 14 developments participating in the Orchard PGS include [I]Wheelock Place, Wisma Atria, Far East Plaza, Tang Plaza, The Heeren, Orchard Cineleisure, Ngee Ann City, Meritus Mandarin Hotel, 313 @ Somerset, Centre Point Shopping Centre, Orchard Point, Concorde Hotel and Shopping Mall, Plaza Singapura and The Cathay[/I]

[B]Positive responses to Marina Centre PGS[/B]

Since the PGS was introduced in the Marina area in April 2008, LTA has received positive feedback from motorists on the usefulness of this system. An LTA survey found that about 82 per cent of motorists find that the PGS makes it easier for them to find an available car park lot in the Marina Centre area. Nine in ten felt that the system has helped to improve their overall driving and parking experience.

"LTA has implemented an effective PGS system that inform motorists of available parking lot in Marina area. This has reduced my time spent on searching for available parking lot during major events such as PC show," said teacher, Mdm Noriyanti.

Mr Clifford Lee, Deputy Manager, Carpark & Transport Services of Suntec City Management Pte Ltd said, "The PGS has helped both our customers and other motorists in locating available lots in the shortest possible time, making car-parking in the Marina area a pleasant and hassle-free experience."

[B]Anticipation for Orchard PGS[/B]

Civil servant, Ms Azlina Jamaludin, looks forward to Orchard PGS. She said, “PGS at Orchard is really sweet music to our ears. My husband and I often drive to Orchard to shop. We look forward to a more pleasurable drive to Orchard since PGS will make our ‘hunt’ for a parking lot less frustrating. We hope more retail developments in Orchard will participate in this initiative”.

Mr Lawrence Wu, Complex Manager, Ngee Ann Property Management Pte Ltd which manages Ngee Ann City believes that “the PGS will greatly improve the efficiency of parking for motorists in the Orchard Road area as they will be able to see the parking availability of various buildings at a glance and then decide which building they wish to park in.”

"The implementation of the PGS will enhance the shopping experience on Orchard Road. Timely information will help drivers find parking quickly and start their retail therapy without delay."

"Generally, I believe road use will be optimised and this is good news for both shoppers and businesses on Orchard Road," said Mrs Sng Ngoi May, Chairman, Orchard Road Business Association.

"By providing motorist with advance information on parking spaces, the PGS system helps us to manage congestion by reducing the volume of circulating traffic that is looking for parking spaces."

"Besides facilitating a more efficient use of existing parking spaces, we are happy to know that it brings about a more pleasant driving experience for motorists in the Marina Centre area and, soon, the Orchard Road area," said Dr Chin Kian Keong, LTA’s Chief Engineer for Transportation.

[B]How the PGS Works[/B]

The PGS comprises a data collection system at the various car parks, a central computer system for processing the information and electronic signboards positioned at strategic locations to inform motorists of the number of parking lots available.

The system will collate information on parking lots availabilities from several shopping developments and display them on the electronic information panels along the roads leading to the area.

With the information, motorists would be able to make an informed decision on which car park to use while driving into the area. This would reduce the incidence of vehicles circulating within the area looking for available parking spaces, and thus adding to the vehicular traffic.

[IMG]http://www.oneshift.com/showroom/uploadimages/resized-2009080402955328.jpg[/IMG]

Credits: JRC