Transportation is the lifeblood of every community, and Mesa is no different. Valley Metro rail is a 26.3-mile light rail line that serves Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa and is used by residents, tourists, and students. With autonomous vehicles coming, transit will be redefined and the quality of time in transit will become equally as important as cost and miles traveled. 

  LED Light Smart Nodes

Project  Upgrade to LED streetlights with smart node capability.  Smart nodes can include cameras/optical sensors, as well as provide Wi-Fi expansion opportunities. The City will explore strategic use of these devices in support of other smart initiatives. They may also provide critical infrastructure for communications and automated metering infrastructure. 

Benefit to the City The LED lights will provide energy-savings as lights are automatically adjusted based on pedestrian and traffic volume.  Renting access to the nodes can be lucrative as mobile carriers deploy 5G networks. 

Status Over 15,800 streetlights have been replaced with energy efficient LED technology.  Over 2000 Philips City Touch nodes are deployed; more are slated in the coming months. 

  Parking Sensors

Smart Parking can include multiple options including in-ground parking sensors, cameras or counting sensors. These devices can be embedded into spots or positioned close to detect whether parking is free or filled.  This is a real-time data collection that is transferred to a mobile application or website for the public to view. The City will be conducting a pilot with three potential options for parking downtown, including using City owned cameras.  

Benefit to the City  The benefits of smart parking are numerous. There will be reduced traffic as less cars are driving around looking for spaces.  Less traffic means less pollution and less driving means less fuel consumption, saving drivers money.  Smart parking will save drivers' time and reduce drivers' stress.  The roads will be safer as drivers are not distracted looking for a spot. The application will provide data that allows the City to find trends in users and lots to make more informed decisions for future parking. 

Status  The City has partnered with different vendors to explore parking location sensors for Downtown Mesa.  Multiple separate trials are in place to explore options to help residents who want to visit downtown stores, restaurants, museums, art programs, and City offices. Piloted lots include MAC parking, as well as Drew Street Lot and Pepper Street garage. Cameras will watch traffic and public safety, while monitoring parking turnover in lots and garages.