Saba deploys new technological and service improvements in its car park network

saba has installed a total of 12 electric vehicle charging points in four of the main car parks managed by the company in the city of Barcelona, of which 8 are car charging points and 4 are for motorbikes. The car parks equipped with this infrastructure are located in Rambla Catalunya (2 spaces), Diputació (2), Lluís Companys (4) and Cathedral (4 spaces for motorbikes).

In this initial pilot phase, the use of these points will not involve any extra cost for customers charging their electric vehicles, as they will only have to pay the amount of their stay in the car park. The charging points also have differentiated blue signage with illuminated signs, making it easier to identify them inside the car parks.

saba is also developing the implementation of  ecosaba areas in its car parks, selective green collection points with different waste containers for paper, plastic and refuse.

A pilot test is currently being carried out in the Cathedral car park (Barcelona). The company plans to continue progressively implementing the ecosaba areas in the saba network in Spain from 2011 onwards.

Extension of the VIA-T payment system

saba is also continuing to progressively implement the VIA-T payment system throughout its car park network. The implementation of this technology has already been extended to a total of 34 car parks, located in Barcelona (16), Badalona (1), Blanes (1), Esplugues de Llobregat (1), Figueres (2), Girona (2), Mataró (3), Puigcerdà (1), Sabadell (2), Terrassa (4) and Vilanova i la Geltrú (1). Use of this system currently represents 6% of the total payments made in these facilities.

Through this system, the customer no longer needs to use the automatic payment machine, but may head straight for exits signposted with a "VIA-T" logo. When they insert their ticket into the validator, the control system identifies the vehicle and allows it to leave.

This set of measures forms part of saba's continuous improvement policy and relates to the company's interest in improving urban mobility and the environment in the cities in which it is present, helping to improve people's quality of life and meeting it's customers' needs. Similarly,  saba's commitment to the introduction of new technologies and service quality forms part of its aim to offer its customers the highest levels of ease and comfort, as well as a faster, safer and more personalised service.

In line with this commitment to new technologies, the saba car parks have illuminated signage indicating free and taken spaces through the Vehicle Guidance System (SGV), which facilitates mobility inside the car park and avoids unnecessary driving. Other innovations include state-of-the-art automatic payment systems; information systems on urban roads and the provision of a Centralised Distance Management Centre (GEDA), a saba innovation which enables centralised support to be offered to the car park service staff and, consequently, improved customer service.

About Saba

saba is a leading company in the car park sector in Spain and the international arena. Innovation, the use of new technologies and the idea of the car park as a fundamental element for mobility and access to urban centres and metropolitan areas are some of the factors which have marked the development of the company.

saba currently has a total of 135,125 spaces distributed among 197 car parks in Spain, France, Italy, Chile, Portugal, Morocco and Andorra. The company is also developing new projects which will increase the total size of the network to 209 car parks and almost 145,000 managed spaces.

saba is the company which manages the parking business of the abertis Group, the European leader in infrastructure management, which also operates in the tollroads, telecommunications infrastructures, airports and logistics parks sectors.