The City of Aspen, in partnership with Coord, a curb management company, announced this week the launch of its first-ever Smart Zone pilot program to better manage the city’s curbs. Smart Zones, powered by Coord’s technology, enable commercial drivers to use their mobile devices to locate nearby available loading zones and to hold, book, and pay for time in them. 

Smart Zones are designed to make it easier for businesses to receive supplies and fulfill customer requests for deliveries. This more streamlined experience will reduce safety and congestion problems, such as double-parking and blocked pedestrian access, according to Coord.

Coord selected Aspen as one of four U.S. cities to participate in the company’s inaugural Digital Curb Challenge to undertake a new curb management program. The City of Aspen has deployed eight Smart Zones located in Aspen’s downtown. Aspen will be the first city to deploy Smart Zones in alleys.

Coord’s Smart Zones will also provide the City of Aspen with information that is essential to make data-driven operational changes. For example, program data can be used to understand when and where loading space is most needed and to help manage demand for it through pricing and time limits. 

“The City of Aspen is excited to be partnering with Coord to better understand how our loading zones and Alleys are working today and how to improve them in the future. The goal is to collect data on how the loading zones are being used, how often certain commercial trucks are coming to town, how long their average stay is and are the loading zones in the right locations and the correct sizes,” said Mitch Osur, director of parking at the City of Aspen. 

“We plan to use the data and information collected to make delivering product more efficient and safer for the truckers and the businesses in Aspen.”