The City of Bethlehem's parking rates officially changed this week, though it will take some time for the city parking authority to update all the meters. Here's what you need to know.

1. The rate for metered curbside parking is set to double from 50 cents an hour to $1 an hour. Meters in city parking lots will increase to 75 per hour.

2. The rate for parking in the city parking decks and garages has been dropped from $1 per hour to 75 cents per hour. The full day rate maximum remains at $6.

3. Both the Center City parking garages have been outfitted with electronic payment machines. They will operate 24/7, eliminating eight part-time parking attendant positions and potentially saving about $100,000 per year while offering more payment options, including credit and debit cards, an upgrade from “cash only,” city parking officials have said.

   Note that on days that are free, you will still have to take a ticket upon entering the parking garage with the new system. You then insert it to get back out without charge. This is because there are multi-day parkers that may have balances to be paid, so the gate can't just be left up on free days.

4. Some city parking meters, likely with more to come, also take credit and debit cards in addition to quarters. Look for solar-powered smart meters with this feature on Broad Street, where the city is running them on a six-month trial.

5. The extra money generated from the new parking rates, estimated at about $132,000 for 2012, is to be put back into the city's parking infrastructure, such as maintenance and improved lighting for existing parking areas, as well as towards the construction of future city parking facilities.