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On Wednesday, the city unveiled three newly installed parking meters on Bedford Street that accept credit cards in addition to coins.
The new meters are installed on Bedford Street from Broad Street to Walton Place. Residents can still use coins to park, and can also use the Parkmobile app to pay for parking anywhere in the downtown.
“We are working hard to bring the city’s systems into the 21st century and provide convenience for residents and visitors,” Mayor David Martin said at a press conference. “Last year, we introduced the Parkmobile app. The pilot program for evaluating these new meters is another way we are improving convenience in the busy downtown and our city.”
According to IPS Group Inc., the Smart Parking Meters are intuitive, reliable, and cost-effective. IPS Group touts that its product is the “world’s most advanced single space parking meter with credit card capability.”
The meters can be retrofitted directly to existing on-street parking meter housings, thus eliminating the need and cost of replacing current coin vaults and housings, the city said. They also use solar-power technology and are wirelessly networked, so they don’t require additional infrastructure to operate.
“On-street parking meters are an integral part of Stamford’s parking management strategy, and the city’s economic vitality, by managing parking activity in areas sensitive to parking turnover," said Bureau Chief for Transportation Jim Travers.
"The current meters are approaching the end of their useful life and the city has a desire to offer enhancements for parking options. So the Bureau of Transportation, Traffic and Parking is exploring options that include multiple forms of payment, ease of operation, cost-effectiveness, and increased ability to manage the parking supply,” Travers said.
Director of Operations Ernie Orgera was also on hand at the announcement.
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