SMART PARKING: Cities could dramatically ease traffic congestion, free up parking spots, and make money in the process if they made their parking meters smarter. City Journal’s Emily Washington says they just need to adopt the sort of congestion pricing that has successfully guaranteed drivers a fast commute on roads with tolls that vary according to the demand. The technology exists thanks to the electronic parking meters that are already being used. On the streets of central business districts, up to 30 percent of the drivers at any time aren’t actually going anywhere — they’re just looking for a parking space. Smarter meters would cost more at peak times, but by guaranteeing that spaces would be readily available, they’d unclog the streets and save valuable time for everyone.