New parking meters throughout the city and a new system for recording available spaces, complete with digital signs. These are the new features introduced by "InnovaQuartu" for 2026 regarding paid parking in the Municipality of Quartu, at no additional cost to residents. Some are already operational, others will be following the completion of the necessary work.
"InnovaQuartu" was founded last year from a public-private partnership between Abaco, which already managed the service, and "Municipia." A single concessionaire for the assessment and collection of IMU, TARI, tourist tax, and property tax, as well as for the paid parking service of the Municipality of Quartu Sant'Elena, for increasingly efficient management of local taxation.
As part of our ongoing commitment to monitoring operations and updating the service to stay current, including technologically, the start of the new year coincided with the upgrade of the parking meters operating in the area. There are approximately sixty currently in operation, all replaced by a team of specialized workers who removed the old ones and installed the new ones in just a few hours.
The new machines feature touch screens and cutting-edge software. They accept—as in the past—both coins and debit cards, and are covered with unique, custom-designed silkscreens, depicting images of Quartu and its most important and characteristic landmarks, making them more pleasant to visit and showcasing the city's beauty.
Furthermore, starting January 26th, ground sensors will be installed. These, combined with information panels, will inform residents of the number of available parking spaces in a given area. They will be located in the most central area of the city, between the Town Hall and the market, as well as in Piazza Venezia. They will also be located near the local health authority offices and the hospital clinic, on Via Bizet and Via Turati.
A total of approximately 250 sensors will be installed, distributed across the various areas, along with four information panels providing information on available parking spaces. The sensors are minimally impactful—they have a diameter of approximately 10 cm and are embedded in the asphalt—and are easy to replace even if damaged. Thanks to NB-IoT technology, they rely on the antennas of mobile phone companies and therefore do not require structural network interventions.
There are also new apps available for paying for parking without having to go to the parking machine. Tap&Park is now available in the Quartu area—completely free, both when downloaded to your phone and when you pay for parking—and also allows you to view a map to see parking availability. This new app joins the existing apps for parking in the Quartu area, namely EasyPark, MoneyGo, and Telepass.
"With this project, Quartu is taking a concrete step toward more fluid and modern mobility," commented Mobility and Transport Councilor Elisabetta Atzori. "The integration of sensors and light panels isn't just a technological upgrade, but a strategic solution to reduce 'search traffic': guiding drivers directly to free parking spaces means fewer traffic jams, less stress, and cleaner air for everyone. It's a service that makes the city easier to live in, especially in areas near essential services like the market and healthcare facilities. All this without increasing parking fees for residents, ensuring a digital, efficient, and finally up-to-date parking system."