How Cities Use Tech for Curb Management

Curb monitoring technology is helping cities build a growing understanding of the shifting demand for this valuable urban space.

1 minute read

September 8, 2024, 7:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Close-up on green painted curb with '30 min max' in white.

Jack / Adobe Stock

More cities are viewing their curbs as “part of a digital system to support parking, deliveries and the changing dynamic of urban life,” writes Skip Descant in Govtech.

Using technology to monitor curb usage is helping cities implement dynamic parking pricing that adjusts to demand to manage available parking space and evaluate the best uses for curbside space.

Portland, Oregon and Santa Monica, California are both testing ‘zero-emission delivery zones,’ areas in the central business districts of each city that prioritize access for zero-emission delivery vehicles. According to Descant, “Portland officials will learn about the city’s curbs via the curb analytics data collected. A portion of this data will enable them to visualize the operations of B-Line, the micro-freight operator, in the same way Portland already visualizes micromobility data.” 

San Jose, California plans to use digital curb data to create its own dynamic parking pricing program. In San Francisco, officials are working to catalog physical street assets such as signage and bus stops in the same platform as curb space and parking spots to create a comprehensive directory of city assets that can help inform policy decisions.

Friday, August 30, 2024 in GovTech

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 30, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Close-up of white panel at top of school bus with "100% electric" black text.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation

California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

April 30 - California Air Resources Board

Aerial view of Freeway Park cap park over I-5 interstate freeway in Seattle, Washington at night.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

April 30 - Streetsblog USA

"No Thru Traffic - Open Streets Restaurants" sign in New York City during Covid-19 pandemic.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street

How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.

April 30 - Next City