This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Politics & Government

Smart Parking Meters Being Tested Downtown

New solar-powered meters on 90-day trial can be fed using a credit card.

Visitors that park along Broad Street between Main and New streets will have no way to claim they let their meter expire because they lacked a quarter over the next three months.

That's because 48 “smart meters” have been installed in those two blocks in a 90-day trial.

The Bethlehem Parking Authority hopes the meters will increase turnover and revenue, as the makers of the solar-powered digital meters, IPS Group Inc., claims.

Find out what's happening in Bethlehemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“This is our first advance in the technology,” said authority Deputy Director Robert Curzi in a phone interview Thursday. “We picked those blocks because they are ... the busiest.”

That the meter heads offer payment by credit or debit card is also a plus, he said, noting that motorists won't have to remember to bring change or fumble for a quarter. The meters are also capable of being topped off via cell phone, though it is uncertain whether the parking authority would eventually take advantage of that feature.

Find out what's happening in Bethlehemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The meters are wi-fi capable and communicate their status to enforcement officials, letting them know which are expired, or even jammed so maintenance calls happen immediately.

“The objective is to increase turnover,” Curzi said.

Despite a cost of about $600 per meter, the more sophisticated machines could be worth it, he said. “It could decrease our expenses,” he said. The authority will likely lease the meters at first, spreading the cost of their acquisition over time, Curzi added.

For now, while the trial and installation of the 48 meters is free, the authority will pay $5.75 per meter over the 90 days to cover wi-fi service that the meters communicate on.

There are no plans to extend hours of operation from the current 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., or raise rates from the current 50 cents an hour to accommodate the cost to lease or purchase the new smart meters, should it decide to to do that, he added.

“It should pay for itself,” Curzi said.

The approximately 1,300 parking meters in the city generated $675,000 in 2009, he added, while fines the same year added $821,000 to city coffers.

When the test is complete, the matter will be put before the authority's Board of Directors, who will have the final say if the smart meters are to be acquired.

Curzi said there is no set timetable, and even if the test proves successful, it is uncertain whether the board will approve acquiring the new meters.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?