PDX Transit

Calling off the meter maid: payment by cell phone

Thursday, 08. 16. 2007  –  Category: Driving

You may soon have another option for refilling time on parking meters in Portland: by using your cell phone.  The City Council is soon expected to approve a $365,000 deal with Cale Parking Systems, the company that supplies the approximately 200 solar-powered "SmartMeters" in downtown and the Lloyd district, to provide the new service.  This would bring the size of the two-year contract with Cale Parking to a whopping $1.95 million.
 
The proposal is having mixed reactions, as some think it unnecessary and an irresponsible expenditure.  "Though a convenient proposition, the money could be better spent elsewhere to serve the people of Portland."  Said downtown resident and commuter, Patrick Long.  Still, proponents of the idea  claim that if the cell phone/parking meter marriage works out in the downtown area, it could spread out to other areas of the city, which means the new convenience could bring in greater parking revenue to the city.  " If they expect it to generate revenue than this is a good thing as a lot of transportation in the city is paid for by parking taxes."  Says Portland author Nicholas K. Harrington.   Indeed, this could be good news for other programs funded by the Office of Transportation, like cyclist and pedestrian safety improvements, as much of the transportation revenue is drawn from parking meters and parking tickets.   For more information check out Willamette week.

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