SINGLE-SPACE PARKING METER PILOT BEGINS IN MAGOUN SQUARE

"Working with the IPS Group out of San Diego, our

single-space meter pilots in Davis and Union Squares have proven very

successful and beneficial to both drivers and local businesses," said Mayor

Joseph A. Curtatone.  "Though we are

extremely happy with the IPS meters that make payments easier by offering

credit card options, we are considering a wider-scale purchase based on the overwhelmingly

positive feedback, and felt it was important to sample more than one product

before taking this next significant step.  I hope this pilot program will

set the groundwork to overhaul our entire meter fleet, thereby making residents'

and visitor and business owners' interactions with our parking system easier

and more efficient."

The 30 new meters accept quarters, Visa and

MasterCards.  Color-coded key panels and

large LCD screens are also designed to make transactions easy and intuitive for

motorists.  In addition to the payment

convenience, the new meters offer solar powered, real-time wireless

communications that will lower maintenance needs and increase efficiency.

"The additional pilot program will allow the City to

further its experiment with another vendor and better determine the best and

most cost-effective product for a potential full scale implementation," said

Matthew Dias, Acting Director of Traffic and Parking. "With the additional

forms of payment options, we have already seen positive outcomes: a drop in the

number of parking violations and ticketing, customer satisfaction due to the

multiple payment options, and no more searching for quarters when looking to

park."