Beijing plans to invest 5.6 billion yuan (US$879.75 million) by 2015 to develop a "smart transportation system," the city's transportation commission said.

The planned system would provide information about vacancies in every parking lot in Beijing and would allow drivers to reserve slots in parking lots around the city in real time. Users would be able to access traffic and parking vacancy info on a website, or via cell phones, car navigation systems or telephone hotlines.

A trial version of the smart parking reservation system will be installed first in Chaoyang District. City officials said it may later be expanded to allow Beijing citizens to make restaurant reservations and book cinema tickets near the parking lots. An online bike rental service is also expected to be included.

Meanwhile, a series of other traffic service projects are underway, including a cell phone app expected to be available next year that would provide bus and metro traffic information and the availability of nearby taxies.

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