6/26/2006
Media Contact:
Margie Smith-Simmons, 327.4669 |
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City’s parking meter pilot program begins today
INDIANAPOLIS - Today, Kumar Menon, director of the Indianapolis Department of Public Works, announced the launch of the city’s parking meter pilot program that will last for a period of 90 days.
Many cities, including Seattle, Houston, Chicago, New York City, Portland and Baltimore are moving away from traditional, single-space coin operated meters to multi-space meters.
Multi-space meters are new, ATM-style parking meters that accept coins, including Susan B. Anthony and Sacagawea dollars, and credit cards - Visa, MasterCard and Discover.
“This new technology will offer motorists an efficient and enhanced payment method every time they park their car,” said Menon.
Two types of meters will be tested at three locations in Indianapolis:
Pay by Space
o This meter is located in the 100 block of S. Illinois St. and the 900 block of Broad Ripple Ave. between Guilford Ave. and Westfield Blvd. This meter is provided by Reino International.
o This system is similar to the existing parking process with defined spaces. Each parking space is numbered and that number is entered into the centrally located meter that manages 6-10 parking spaces. Time remaining and violation information is found at the meter site.
Pay and Display
o This meter is located in the 400 block of W. Washington St. between Missouri and West Streets and is provided by UTS Global.
o With this system there are no identified spaces but every person parking in the defined area, typically a block, must pay at the centrally located meter, take the white receipt and place it on the dashboard on the sidewalk side of the vehicle. If additional time is needed, a new receipt must be obtained prior to expiration.
“This new equipment will provide better customer service by offering more convenient payment options as well as reduce visual clutter on our busy sidewalks,” said Tamara Zahn, president of Indianapolis Downtown, Inc. “Customer feedback will be very helpful during the test period.”
The new parking meters will also improve aesthetics and promote universal accessibility.
During the first week of the pilot program from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., DPW greeters will assist residents and visitors as they use the new parking meters and complete surveys to determine user preference and ease of use.
DPW created a website, www.IndyGov.org/ParkingMeter, to help educate the community on the pilot program. The website also contains an online survey to help determine which meter best meets the needs of the citizens of Indianapolis. The survey is universally accessible and can be viewed with screenreaders for those with visual disabilities.
Following the trial period and the evaluation of user preferences, a recommendation will be made. If a new meter is chosen, it will be phased in over several years and placed first in the areas with the greatest demand for customer parking and highest parking turnover.
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