St. Louis residents got to meet the four companies vying to become the new provider of the city’s ten thousand parking meters at a town hall meeting Tuesday.
Debbie Johnson, Director of Communications for the Treasurer’s Office, says the main thing people want out of the new parking meters is more payment options.
“They want credit card, debit card, the ability to use their phone and pay for their parking meter while they’re sitting in their car for example,” Johnson said.
The companies competing to provide the city’s parking meters are Xerox, Duncan Solutions, Aparc Systems, and T2 Systems.
Back in February, each company set up one of their parking meters as part of a field test for citizens to sample and provide feedback on the different vendors.
The four companies boast similar features, with a clear emphasis on being able to accept a variety of payment options.
Additionally, the city is testing Parkmobile and Passport Parking, two smartphone payment apps.
Johnson said revamping the city’s parking meters has been long overdue.
“Our goal of all of this is to create a first class parking operation for the city of St. Louis,” Johnson said. “It’s been a long time since we’ve upgraded parking in the city. It’s time to make the changes.”
The city’s parking division currently employs 150 individuals. Johnson said integrating new technology will not result in any job loss.
“We’re not planning on eliminating any jobs with this change in technology,” Johnson said.
The field test will end in July and the city will decide on a company sometime in August. Parking meter locations can be found at the Treasurer’s Office website.
Kari McAvoy calls herself a repeat offender of the parking system. Regardless of the vendor the city decides on, she says she’s looking forward to having more payment options.
“No longer will I get a ticket because I don’t have a quarter, a dime, a nickel,” said McAvoy. “I’m very excited.”