City of Seattle unveils new ‘smart’ parking meters
Nov 7, 2014, 6:12 AM | Updated: 10:40 am
The city of Seattle is going to spend about $5,000 each to replace 1,500 parking meters and retrofit 700 more for about $1,500 each.(SDOT)
(SDOT)
After 10 years, the city of Seattle is upgrading its parking meters.
The current system communicates with your bank and the city via cell phone technology, which means the meters, in essence, are 10-year-old cell phones – really big and expensive phones.
The technology is obsolete and fixing them has become cost prohibitive. So the city is going to spend about $5,000 each to replace 1,500 parking meters and retrofit 700 more for about $1,500 each.
Mike Estey, the manager of parking operations and traffic permits for Seattle, said the new machines are faster and more reliable, with a much larger display.
“We want them to get their parking transaction done and get on with their business,” he said.
These new meters are made out of stainless steel and have a lifespan of 7-to-10 years. They also have better readers that won’t eat your credit card. Improved software and connectivity will help marry them with new pay-by-smartphone technology.
“We want pay-by-phone usage to go up,” Estey said.
The other change coming to Seattle parking is variable pricing, much like the HOT lanes on Highway 167. You will pay a price that is based on parking demand, but the maximum will remain $4 an hour.
The Seattle City Council would need to vote to change the rate.
Variable pricing will start in Pioneer Square before expanding across the city.
