Soon digging for quarters to feed the parking meters in SoNo will be joined by a new payment option, a special issued parking payment card. Finally! And word, according to the Hour, is that other parking areas may get the option too. From the Hour:
The debit cards will hold $25 in value and deduct that amount in 25-cent increments. Parking Authority members say the cards will offer motorists convenience.
“It’s going to give people the ability to not have money for the meters. How many people carry coins in their pockets anymore?” said Stephen G. Bentkover, Parking Authority chairman. “These are new meters that were purchased a relatively short time ago, so they have the technology to allow people to use these debit cards. You buy this card for $25. When you stick the card in (the meter), the first thing the meter does is tell you what your balance is.”
Several years ago, the Parking Authority approved the installation of 165 modern parking meters on Marshall, North and South Main, Washington and other streets in the SoNo area.
For North Main Street, that translates to 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday. For all other areas in South Norwalk, meter operating hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
Kathryn Hebert, public works administrative services manager, said she would like to see the debit card program expanded to the Haviland Street and North Water Street parking lots, also in the SoNo area.
John Deorio, owner of Sassafras Gifts & Home Decor on Washington Street, keeps a health supply of quarters on hand for motorists who park at meters and don’t have change in their pockets.
“I’ve gone through a lot of quarters — people coming in looking for quarters,” Deorio said. “It really doesn’t bother me, I compensate by making sure I keep enough quarters.”
In that respect, Deorio supports the concept of parking meter debit cards.
His only concerns: ownership of the cards and fine levels for parking violations.
“I’m just concerned how would they be able to track (a card) if it’s lost. I just want a little more information about it,” Deorio said.
With the move to prepaid parking payment cards, a whole host of opportunities will open up for area merchants and the city. A program like this has been operating on New Haven for awhile, including programs that enable merchants to sell the cards. I’ve long advocated for retail merchants to get involved in working with the city to direct parking programs that can enhance the customer experience.
Twenty-five dollars is rather steep to start off the card. If McDonald’s can sell you $5 cards, which are renewable and tied to a credit card, then so should Norwalk’s parking card. It also needs a cool name. But these are minor details that will be tweaked and refined. Just getting Norwalk into the 21st century is a major milestone. One that I’m thrilled about.
source: The Hour, Parking authority to offer debit cards for municipal meters, December 23, 2007
