The Chicago Experiment That's Changing Street Safety

Cities have invested billions in bike lanes, bus lanes, and curb infrastructure—but much of it still relies on little more than paint. When funding for protected infrastructure is limited, how can cities improve safety today?

This week on Parking Live, Matt Darst welcomes Matthew Willenbrink, Account Executive for Parking at Genetec, to discuss how automated enforcement is helping cities improve compliance, reduce repeat violations, and make streets safer using existing technology. Drawing on Chicago's Smart Streets program and other deployments, they explore how centralized enforcement is changing driver behavior while giving agencies new tools to manage increasingly complex curb space. 

In this episode:

• Why "paint doesn't enforce itself" 
• Lessons from Chicago's Smart Streets pilot 
• How automated enforcement reduces repeat violations 
• The operational gains from centralized citation processing 
• Why compliance—not revenue—is the real measure of success 
• How cities can improve safety while infrastructure funding remains uncertain 
• Using data to guide enforcement and future street design 
• The expanding role of curb management beyond traditional parking 

Whether you're responsible for parking, transportation, mobility, or public safety, this conversation offers practical insight into how cities can create safer, more efficient streets without waiting years for major infrastructure projects. 

Hosted and Produced by Jade Neville and Matt Darst
Producer: Chris O’Keeffe
Production Assistant: Desmond Gates
Editor: Patrick Emile
Associate Producer: Cyndi Raskin
Executive Producer: Julie Gates

More on Smart Streets: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/fin/provdrs/parking_and_redlightcitationadministration/svcs/smart-streets.html

More on Genetec:
https://www.genetec.com/

Parking Live is brought to you by Modaxo — passionate about moving the world’s people.

 Disclaimer

The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Modaxo, their affiliates or subsidiaries, or any entities they represent. This production belongs to Modaxo and may contain information subject to trademark, copyright, or other intellectual-property rights and restrictions. This production provides general information and should not be relied on as legal advice or opinion. Modaxo and specifically disclaim all warranties, express or implied, and will not be liable for any losses, claims, or damages arising from the use of this presentation, from any material contained in it, or from any action or decision taken in response to it.