Warning period over: Ticketing begins in expanded smart loading zones in Center City

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The warning period is officially over, and drivers will start getting tickets for parking in the newest smart loading zones in Center City.

Last month, the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) added 30 new smart loading zones to the 22 that were already in place. The newest zones are located between Bainbridge and Spring Garden streets.

“We looked at existing loading zones where we see the most activity with loading and unloading,” said Corrine O’Connor, PPA deputy executive director.

Those zones were converted from the regular 30-minute loading zones to smart loading zones, which have license plate-reading cameras. The signs on the curb for the smart loading zones say “registration required,” highlighted in purple.

Delivery drivers and companies who are pre-registered with the CurbPass program pay 10 cents a minute to park in those zones. If they hang on too long — if they park for more than an hour — they will get a ticket for $51.

O’Connor said around 49,000 people have signed up for the CurbPass program. The vast majority — about 41,000 — are individuals who use regular vehicles for pickups, drop-offs and smaller deliveries. The rest have vehicle fleets with companies that regularly make deliveries in Center City.

Drivers who are not registered can park in those zones for free for three minutes. If they stay in the zone longer, they will receive a $51 fine. It will cost more — $76 — for those who double park.

The program, which has been around since May 2025, was established in response to the surge in commercial deliveries and the increased congestion, the PPA said.

Officials said the program has been successful; there has been more turnover at the loading zones and improved traffic flow. And, 78% of those who have gotten a ticket have not gotten another one.

“That means that once you did get that notice in the mail that you had a violation, then you became aware of the CurbPass and what you needed to do if you did pull into that zone,” O’Connor said.