Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on Friday announced the installation of the first of 100 new easy-to-read parking signs that use streamlined graphics and colors to explain confusing parking restrictions.

The Los Angeles Department of Transportation (LADOT) will test the signs during a six-month pilot program on Spring and Main streets between 2nd and 9th streets in downtown.

“My back to basics agenda is about creating modern city government that makes life easier for Angelenos, and these new signs are designed to help people find parking and avoid tickets,” Garcetti said. “Some of these sign poles are simply out of control, so we should be taking common sense steps to cut the confusion.”

The LADOT Parking Signage Pilot Program makes Los Angeles the first city in the country to create grid-style parking signs. The signs use graphics in green and red to pictorially summarize parking restrictions. The new signs are being placed alongside existing signs, in accordance with state law. A web address on the sign solicits input from drivers about the signs during this initial phase of the program: parkinginfo.lacity.org. In Phase II of the pilot program, LADOT will work with the California Traffic Control Devices Committee to gain final approval to completely replace existing parking signage with the new signs.

In addition to the redesign, the new signs also feature attached Gimbal and Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) beacons, donated to the city at no cost to taxpayers.

The transmit-only beacons can send information readable by smartphones and connected vehicles and provides the foundation for developers to create apps that provide parking and other information.

Future opt-in uses for beacons could also include payment options or neighborhood event notifications.