Bethlehem Parking Authority & Cleverciti Expand Partnership With On-Street Detection, Guided Enforcement & Digital Signage for Wayfinding
Bethlehem, PA — Following the success of its curb management pilot project with Cleverciti, the Bethlehem Parking Authority (BPA) is taking the next step. The two organizations have now extended their partnership to roll out on-street detection, increased enforcement efficiencies, and digital signage for wayfinding—strengthening Bethlehem’s efforts to manage curb usage, traffic flow, parking compliance and the overall mobility experience.
Building on a Strong Foundation
Earlier this year, BPA and Cleverciti launched a pilot project using Cleverciti’s AI-powered aerial sensors to monitor offstreet availability, occupancy, turnover and compliance in Bethlehem. This pilot has already delivered valuable real-time data, enabling smarter decisions on parking operations.
That foundation has proven the value of data-driven curb management for Bethlehem, and now the stakes are rising: to make all of parking more responsive, compliant, and navigable.
What’s New: On-Street Detection & Guided Enforcement
Under the expanded scope:
On-Street Detection: Additional sensors will be deployed along selected streets and to detect when vehicles are occupying curb zones. These will not only monitor if a space is in use, but also capture metadata around duration, turnover, and unauthorized uses (e.g. overstay, loading vs. passenger drop-off vs. parking).
Enforcement Efficiencies: With more precise detection data, the BPA can guide enforcement practices toward the broader goal of achieving compliance rather than issuing tickets. Automated alerts will notify officers when violations occur, allowing for more efficient responses. Over time, as patterns of misuse are revealed through data, enforcement strategies can become even more efficient and proactive, reducing the need for ticketing while increasing overall compliance.
Wayfinding via Digital Signage
One of the most visible changes will be the addition of digital signage across key entry points and thoroughfares:
Signs installed at strategic locations will display real-time curb and space availability, guiding drivers toward available areas.
The signage will also help with wayfinding: showing directions to nearby parking resources, loading zones, special event zones, or accessible parking.
The aim is to reduce cruising, congestion, and emissions caused by drivers circling in search of parking, while sharing impactful information with the community and improving the predictability and experience of arriving in downtown and event areas.
Expected BENEFITS & Impacts
Improved Compliance/Reduced Violations: Guided enforcement fueled by accurate, real-time detection means fewer illegally parked vehicles, overstays, or misuse of special curb zones.
Reduced Traffic Congestion: With wayfinding and visible guidance, drivers waste less time circling, freeing up curb space and easing flow.
Better Use of Curb Assets: Data will reveal where curb space is under-utilized or misused, allowing BPA to reallocate, redesign, or manage zones dynamically.
Enhanced User Experience: Residents, visitors, delivery drivers, and businesses benefit from clearer information, more reliable parking, and easier navigation.
Environmental & Operational Efficiency: Less idling, smarter routing, and more efficient enforcement reduce emissions and minimize overtime or inefficient staff deployment.
“These solutions mark another important step in our commitment to providing innovative, data-driven solutions that enhance the parking experience in Bethlehem,” said Steven Fernstrom, Executive Director of the Bethlehem Parking Authority. “Having access to accurate usage data is foundational to creating a more accessible and vibrant downtown for residents, businesses, and visitors.”
“Cleverciti is proud to deepen our partnership with the Bethlehem Parking Authority,” said Sonny Samra, Chief Revenue Officer, Cleverciti. “From our initial deployment, we have seen both the challenges and the opportunities for parking in Bethlehem. Adding detection, guided enforcement, and wayfinding signage allows for an integrated approach that creates a closed loop system—where data is continuously collected, analyzed, and acted upon —providing real-time information, actionable insights, and visible guidance, so Bethlehem can deliver a better, smarter mobility experience.”
What’s Next
As rollout advances, BPA and Cleverciti will monitor metrics such as:
Uptake in compliant parking (decrease in violations)
Reduction in time spent cruising for a spot
Changes in turnover and space utilization in detected zones
Operational efficiencies (e.g. enforcement response time, staff allocation)
Bethlehem’s journey with Cleverciti shows how modern curb management isn’t just a back-office function, but a visible, interactive experience that shapes mobility, access, and the city’s daily flow. This new phase promises to sharpen that experience for everyone.
The CleverPortal offers real-time access to parking data, empowering operators to streamline operations and enhance revenue generation. By leveraging advanced analytics and smart parking management tools, the CleverPortal simplifies parking logistics, provides valuable data for effective policy development and decision making, improves the overall customer experience.
Cleverciti smart parking sensors harness the power of sophisticated edge computing, artificial intelligence, and deep learning to accurately identify parking space occupancy. Cleverciti’s global sensor network uses deep learning to enable each sensor to learn from the others, ensuring peak performance.
Cleverciti’s Signs are typically used at major decision points to provide guidance to multiple different parking areas, eliminating guesswork. Through real-time and reliable local guidance for drivers, parking search times can be nearly eliminated, and traffic and congestion can be reduced dramatically.
For more information about Cleverciti and its range of smart parking solutions, reach out to info@cleverciti.com