Boston is bracing for a major parking meter overhaul

Parking is about to get a makeover in Boston. 

Over the following two years, the town of Boston has plans to switch a big portion of its parking meters, in response to WGBH. These parking meters, which serve one or two spots at a time, will probably be changed by kiosks that may serve a number of areas. 

“Most of those meters are at or close to the tip of their helpful life, in order that’s why we’re taking up this course of now. Our schedule is to start someday, hopefully, in late 2024 … This will probably be a phased undertaking, operating in all probability by way of 2026,” Nick Gove, Boston’s transportation division commissioner, advised the information outlet.

Not solely will many of the present 5,600 parking meters get replaced with kiosks providing a number of fee choices, however even people who stay, mentioned to be 1,000 or fewer, can have new meter heads, in response to WGBH. 

When the method is repeated, there will probably be 500 to 700 parking kiosks within the metropolis, a pointy improve from the present 160 round Boston, in response to WGBH. 

These parking meters may even settle for tap-to-pay and pay-by-text, which present meters don’t settle for. 

Bank card funds and the town of Boston’s parking app account for 90% of parking income, in comparison with the remaining sliver made up of coin-based funds, in response to officers.

“Buyer point-of-sale preferences have continued to evolve during the last decade — actually, the final half decade,” Gove advised WGBH.

With out these replacements, in response to Gove, parking income could be impacted by non-functioning parking meters.

At the moment, there is no such thing as a deliberate improve in parking charges alongside these adjustments. Based on Gove, nonetheless, the town does plan to reevaluate its rules later this yr.