Company building automated garage in Raleigh in 'advanced' talks for driverless projects elsewhere

The technology company delivering and operating Raleigh's first automated parking garage is in "advanced" talks to find and build similar garages specifically for driverless cars in other cities, as redevelopment is currently underway on a prime plot of real estate downtown. 

"We have an equity group actively looking for sites to build AUTOParkit garages for autonomous vehicles," Christopher Alan says, CEO of the autonomus parking company AUTOParkit. 

In recent weeks, a large field of roadside trees have been cleared off Kindley Street near downtown, paving way for a 228-space automated parking deck that will be part of the greater Gateway Corridor project.

Alan, whose company AUTOParkit is the manufacturer and operator of the autonomous parking system within the deck, previously told WRAL the company has had "perimeter talks with autonomous vehicle companies.

When asked at a site survey this June, Alan said there was "quite a bit of advancement" on the matter, telling WRAL there are project discussions for driverless car garages in Los Angeles, San Francisco and potentially Austin, Texas that would incorporate his company's parking technology. 

“The financial group behind this is invested in driverless cars, driverless taxis. All of those need to be charged, parked somewhere," he said. 

AUTOParkit's system can park cars on its own using an automated load bay system, in which drivers deposit their vehicles into a kiosk-like underground system. 

The electric vehicle capable spaces can be upscaled to house autonomous, driverless cars. 

Whether AUTOParkit's progress with driverless car facilities in other cities translates to Raleigh is unclear.

Alan, who says the project is slated to park its first car by year's end, says conversations would need to happen now to have them materialize in the coming years.

"Those are discussions that need to happen now to happen 5-8 years from now. And why we’re excited about Raleigh is because it’s one of the fastest growing cities in the country," Alan said.

Mayor Janet Cowell said the automated parking garage coming to downtown Raleigh could be a "catalyst" for furthering conversations for driverless cars in the city.

WRAL previously reported on newly unveiled site plans for the city plaza and green space sitting atop the garage. The plaza would act as an open space for pedestrians at the center of the City Gateway development, an upcoming neighborhood on the outskirts of the city's immediate downtown footprint. When completed, it will include more than 1,400 residential units, office space, 30,000 square feet of retail, and a 200-key hotel. It will also be home to a K-8 charter school. 

There are plans to honor the history of the city's Fourth Ward, including a commemorative plaque to display the site's history.