The “Smart Zones” program was launched in downtown Nashville, USA, It is one of the vibrant cities in Tennessee, which contains many entertainment, music and restaurant events, This is to overcome the challenges caused by the congestion of city streets, especially in areas used by shipping companies to load and unload goods. The program is based on a smart application that provides real-time information that allows freight drivers to search for available places within eight “smart zones” dedicated to transporting goods and be able to book them through the application.
Loading and unloading berths in city and urban centres are highly crowded and indiscriminately used. It causes a lot of traffic jams, This negatively affects the functioning of services in those areas and the quality of life of the residents. With the increase in the number of cargo shipments and delivery services associated with the increase in demand for e-commerce in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, This phenomenon has become an important issue that worries many local government agencies concerned with traffic regulation, Authorities are usually forced to intervene to regulate the conduct of things in a process known as “sidewalk management”. In this context, The City of Nashville has recently moved towards finding an innovative and smart solution in collaboration with the private sector to address the challenges caused by the indiscriminate use of cargo loading docks in the city. Its efforts crystallized in adopting a platform management program that regulates the transport of goods through a smart application available to freight vehicle drivers.
The initiative was part of a broader program that included four cities in the United States that were launched by Coord. It is a leader in managing sidewalks and providing smart cities with the tools to handle, pricing, and allocating available spaces. and manage them digitally. In this sense, The Municipality of Nashville saw an opportunity to improve its sidewalk management processes as a result of public-private collaboration. This city is one of the most vibrant cities in the United States due to its many restaurants, music, culture and the arts. The city municipality participated in this experiment in an effort to simplify loading processes on the sidewalks, and reduce congestion, and support for local economic activity, Commercial deliveries are a must-have in the downtown area, which produces 25% of sales tax revenues.
The experience of the Smart Zones program is a model for improving pavement management in terms of simplifying cargo loading, reducing congestion and supporting local economic activity. While allowing drivers of freight vehicles, Through the support provided by Cord smart technologies, Use their mobile devices in order to locate nearby download areas available for them to reserve and pay for their use. In this way, Smart Zones enhance the economic vitality of commercial areas by making it easier for businesses and restaurants to get the materials and supplies they need smoothly. In addition to improving the experience of residents and visitors to the downtown area of Nashville. One of the achievements of “smart zones” compared to traditional and often unregulated roads is to improve the level of safety of vehicles and pedestrians by reducing road hazards such as double parking on the side of the road, preventing pedestrians, cyclists or scooters from reaching their destination or blocking them from the sight of vehicle drivers, which can lead to serious accidents.
The Smart Zones trial will also provide the Nashville Municipality with the necessary information to enable traffic and road safety authorities to make changes in city policies or laws based on evidence and data collected through the Cord app and platform. For example, Program data can be used to understand when and where load spaces are needed most and to help manage demand by determining pricing and available time limits. In addition, If drivers are aware of real-time information on the availability, rules and prices of load spaces in “smart zones”, Allows the Municipality to make amendments to the rules and regulations in response to the events and activities held in the city, or emergencies to which you are exposed, Effortlessly, And without incurring costs to modify the signs on the street.
From the above, the City of Nashville appreciates joining this pioneering project in managing sidewalks digitally, Not only because the downtown area suffers from several challenges caused by the indiscriminate use of cargo loading spaces, But also because the move serves as a strong pillar of the Nashville transportation plan, And its vision that aims to reach zero mortality from road accidents and increase traffic safety in general.
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