Parking in Downtown Las Vegas gets a little easier

Downtown Las Vegas visitors no longer have to carry bags of change in their cars in order to park.

Las Vegas city officials unveiled on Tuesday a new multi-space parking system that uses solar powered electronic terminals — which accepts change, credit cards or debit cards — to cover a multitude of parking spaces.

The first machine used in the demonstration is located across from City Hall on Clark Avenue and First Street.

In an inaugural transaction, Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman and Ward III Councilman Bob Coffin demonstrated how the new meters work, and how they will replace the former coin-based meter system.

Bertha, as Goodman affectionately referred to the terminal, will replace single-space meters.

The 233 electronic meters cover about 1,200 parking spaces, and 125 previous pay spaces will be converted to free parking, city officials said.

The $1.45 million funding for the project is from the city’s Parking Enterprise Fund. The system will pay for itself, Goodman said.

The terminals charge $1 per hour, and only allow two hours of parking at a time, same as the old system. The machines are user-friendly, according to Goodman, and have multiple languages for world travelers. They also provide a receipt if needed.

Visitors can use an app called ParkMe to find parking in real time with the new system, city officials said.

Also present at the demonstration was Sam Cherry, who not only has businesses downtown but lives there. He sees the new system is more efficient, central and aesthetically pleasing.

The replacement process should be finished by the end of July.

Contact Rochel Leah Goldblatt at rgoldblatt@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0264.