Nestled between the Wilder Kaiser mountains and the Kitzbühel Alps, St. Johann in Tirol is one of Western Austria’s most popular tourism and business destinations. With its historic town center, vibrant shopping street, and diverse leisure offerings, the town attracts visitors from near and far throughout the year.
However, growing popularity also brings increased traffic volumes. Particularly during peak tourist seasons and major events, the high number of vehicles often causes congestion in the town center and traffic jams on the federal highway. One key challenge is guiding both visitors and local residents efficiently to available parking facilities, ensuring smooth traffic flow throughout the town.
To address these challenges in a sustainable way, St. Johann in Tirol partnered with SWARCO to implement an intelligent parking guidance system that manages traffic, provides real-time information, and generates valuable data for future mobility planning.
Finding parking before search traffic begins
The project was based on a comprehensive traffic analysis conducted by the Tyrol-based engineering company BERNARD. Building on these findings, a modern parking guidance system was developed to inform drivers about available parking spaces as they enter the town.
Occupancy levels at local parking facilities are continuously monitored using camera-based detection systems provided by BERNARD. The resulting real-time data is processed within the SWARCO MyCity traffic management platform and instantly displayed on LED information signs.
These signs form the core of the solution: five large-format Variable Message Signs (VMS), each measuring 2.3 × 2.4 meters and manufactured by SWARCO Futurit, utilize state-of-the-art LED technology with patented lens optics to display available parking spaces and communicate important municipal information.
In addition, semi-dynamic way finding signs guide road users directly to suitable parking facilities. This reduces unnecessary trips through the town center and significantly improves overall traffic flow.
An ecosystem for information and traffic management
The parking guidance system serves a much broader purpose than simply displaying available parking spaces.
Through the MyCity platform, the municipality manages all LED information displays centrally. Using the integrated scenario manager, different messages can be displayed automatically based on the time of day or specific events.
For example, the signs provide information about school start times, weekly markets, public events, construction works, and current traffic disruptions. As a result, the same infrastructure also serves as a powerful communication tool for the municipality while greatly increasing flexibility in day-to-day traffic management.
Tangible improvement for traffic, business, and quality of life
Today, the positive impact of the project can be seen throughout the town.
Targeted traffic guidance has significantly reduced parking search traffic and sustainably improved traffic conditions on the federal highway. At the same time, calmer streets in the town center provide greater safety and a more pleasant environment for residents and visitors alike.
Areas previously affected by unstructured parking have been redesigned to create more attractive public spaces and to better accommodate pedestrians. These improvements benefit not only local residents but also visitors and the local economy. Better accessibility makes it easier for customers to reach shops and businesses, strengthening retail activity in the town center.
The system also supports the shift toward public transportation by directing drivers to appropriate parking facilities. In the long term, this helps reduce the burden of private vehicle traffic in the town center.
Data-driven decisions for future mobility
Beyond operational traffic management, the system provides valuable insights for the municipality’s future development.
Continuous analysis of occupancy rates, utilization trends, and user behavior enables informed decision-making for future transport and urban planning initiatives. This creates a seamless digital process, from parking occupancy detection and communication networks to centralized management and driver information.
The resulting data helps the municipality continuously improve mobility services and make more efficient use of existing infrastructure.
A project that continues to evolve
One of the key success factors behind the project was the close collaboration between the Municipality of St. Johann in Tirol and SWARCO.
Following comprehensive training, the municipal team now independently utilizes the full capabilities of the MyCity platform. New scenarios, information campaigns, and operational workflows are created internally and adapted flexibly to changing circumstances.
Together with this committed client, SWARCO continues to enhance and expand the system. As a result, the solution not only remains technologically up to date but also evolves in line with future requirements.
Source: SWARCO ITS
