Philadelphia to replace old parking meters

Philadelphia is in the process of replacing it’s old parking meters with more modern devices.

Philadelphia is in the process of replacing it’s old parking meters with more modern devices.

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[audio: 090828tmparking.mp3]

Due to the parking rate increase implemented earlier this year, parking meters are filling up too quickly. Richard Dixon is senior director of planning for the Philadelphia Parking Authority. He says the agency is replacing the outdated meters.

Dixon: The bottom of the meters that holds the coin, the vault part was purchased in the mid 1980’s when rates were lower, some cities have converted to larger coin canisters in the bottom that would hold more coins. We think it’s much more user friendly to install the new equipment we’ve purchased with allows for multiple payment options.

Dixon says new multi-space meters, which can accommodate eight parking spaces, will print out payment receipts that drivers put on their dashboards. They accept bills and credit cards in addition to coins and smart cards. The conversion in Center City and University City is expected to be completed by early 2010.