By Lookout Staff

August 21, 2013 -- ParkMe, a Downtown Santa Monica-based app developer has teamed up with the bayside city's Buy Local campaign to help alleviate parking woes.

Working directly with the City, ParkMe developed a Santa Monica-specific app for smartphones that tells motorists where parking lots and structures are located, how full they are and how much it will cost to stow their cars there while they shop and dine.

Taking the uncertainty and stress out of finding parking downtown, the company reasons, can encourage customers to return to the bustling center more frequently.

“ParkMe leverages its technology and metrics so that fellow Santa Monica businesses can utilize real-time parking maps and data to support their own customer outreach and parking access needs,” ParkMe wrote on its blog last week.

Those metrics include how long motorists can stay parked at any of locations mapped by the app and how late the parking lots or structures are open. It also includes an adjustable rate calculator that tells users what they can expect to pay for the amount of time they plan to be parked.

“Fast and convenient parking is a top priority for local businesses and their customers,” reads ParkMe's blog. “Its technology shows how tech savvy and ahead of the curve Santa Monica is, and it’s a win-win for all.”

The app is particularly helpful in a city where congestion -- usually caused by drivers looking for parking -- can cause tremendous stress for motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists alike.

The City has also begun its own campaign to expedite the parking process for visitors to the city's bustling downtown district, including installing signs that can give motorists real-time updates about where parking is most available.

For more information about ParkMe of Buy Local, visit parkme.com or buylocalsm.com.