Digitizing the Curb

How San Jose Is Using Data to Rethink Parking and Street Space

This post was co-written by Julia Gerasimenko.

Through a USDOT SMART Grant, the San José Department of Transportation (SJDOT) and technology partner Umojo have been piloting innovative tools to better understand how curb space is used downtown. By combining cameras, digital mapping, and integrations across parking systems, the city is beginning to “digitize the curb” and make parking data measurable, flexible, and easier to leverage for future urban planning decisions.

Building a digital map of the curb

At the core of SJDOT’s pilot program is a San Jose-specific platform that brings together multiple layers of information about how people use curb space.

This includes:

• Parking meter locations and rules
• Parking time limits and regulations
• Pay-by-phone and meter system integrations
• Off-street garage occupancy data
• Real-time and observed curb activity from cameras and sensors

Instead of scattered systems and manual records, this creates a centralized view of how curb space functions block by block. As SJDOT staff shared with Transform, having a digitized inventory of meters, regulations, and street conditions has already made the department’s everyday work more efficient. Tasks that once required time-consuming field checks can now be done quickly with accurate, up-to-date data. Testing multiple tools in concert helps corroborate results and turn pilots into action.

Supporting safer streets with better data

One immediate application of this work has been the implementation of California’s daylighting requirements.

The state’s daylighting law requires 20 feet of clear space near most crosswalks to improve visibility and reduce conflicts between drivers and people walking. With a digitized curb inventory, SJDOT has been able to:

• Identify which meters are too close to crosswalks
• Measure and apply appropriate buffers, often extending to 30–40 feet in practice
• Prioritize updates and ensure compliance more efficiently

Without this data, the process would have required on-the-ground surveys of every crosswalk downtown, taking significantly more time and manual effort. With it, the city can act faster and more consistently to improve safety.

Understanding how the curb is actually used

The pilot is also helping the city respond more effectively to issues on the street.

In areas where cameras are deployed, staff can review activity to understand patterns like double parking or loading behavior. This has been especially useful when responding to public complaints or questions.

At the same time, SJDOT is clear about the limitations of curbside data. Because the current system relies heavily on transactional data and cameras in a limited area, it does not yet capture the full picture across the city. Expanding coverage and improving data quality will be key next steps.

From operations to planning

Beyond day-to-day operations, this work is starting to inform bigger decisions.

With better data on curb utilization, SJDOT can begin to:

• Understand where parking and loading demand is highest
• Compare on-street and off-street usage
• Evaluate how demand changes during events
• Support more accurate revenue projections

It opens the door to more dynamic curb management, where space can be adapted based on real needs to inform future planning decisions.

For efforts like these and broader planning conversations across San Jose, this work represents an important shift.

When cities can see how the curb is actually used, they can:

• Make streets safer
• Support local businesses more effectively
• Use limited space more efficiently
• Ground decisions in real data rather than perception

A foundation for what comes next

While the pilot is still evolving, one thing is already clear: the value of having better data.

SJDOT staff noted that the system is already doing more than initially expected. At the same time, they see significant potential to go further, from expanding camera coverage to strengthening integrations and refining analysis.

Just as important has been the collaboration behind the work. SJDOT has included multiple teams of city staffers, community organizations, regional partners, and other stakeholders in the process. Incorporating the needs and ideas of diverse constituencies leads to better outcomes.

The curb may look like a simple strip of pavement, but it plays an outsized role in how our streets function. San Jose is showing what it looks like to start managing it that way.