Proposed parking meters can take credit, debit card payments

People parking in downtown Las Vegas could whip out a credit or debit card instead of fumbling for coins if the City Council approves a meter system.

On Tuesday, parking manager Brandy Stanley announced a proposed new system to replace about 1,200 coin-operated meters with 233 multi space, computerized meters that accept cards and coins.

Stanley, who in June 2011 became the city's first "parking czar," said the idea is to make parking more convenient , although some say the multispace meters she wants to install will be more confusing than the single-space variety, which can be updated to accept cards.

Not only do the individual meters make it easier to pay, the machines produce transaction data that can be used to support mobile apps that give users an up-to-the-second snapshot of parking availability.

"Wherever I have a single-space meter, all I have is a bunch of coins," said Stanley of the existing meters, which don't communicate data remotely. "These meters will give us the data we need to make decisions."

The new meters would cover about six spaces each in downtown and the medical district west of Interstate 15 and north of Charleston Boulevard, areas already covered by meters.

They're manufactured by Parkeon, a New Jersey company that has sold meters for more than 3 million spaces in 3,000 cities in 50 countries.

The city will pay Parkeon, one of four bidders, $1.4 million for the meters, which could be installed as early as May if the City Council approves the contract at the Jan. 23 meeting.

The money comes from the parking enterprise fund, which is replenished by parking payments and doesn't receive money directly from taxes.

While Stanley is enthusiastic about the prospects for multi space meters, others say experiences in other cities suggest city officials should be cautious.

In July, officials in Brookline, Mass., took 16 multispace meters out of service after complaints they were worse than the single-space meters they replaced. The city then installed new single-space meters that could accept credit and debit cards in addition to coins.

In Spokane, Wash., officials tested both single-space and multispace meters and decided there was a need for both.

People had no problem using multispace meters in parking lots but preferred single-space meters on the street, said Jan Quintrall, of the city's Business Services Department.

"The customers, they found having that meter right there in their own private parking space is much easier," Quintrall said. "This isn't just about what is most cost-effective and what is easiest for us. It really is about what is the best experience for the customer. I'm glad we tested both."

Lauri Keller of IPS Group, a company that makes single-space meters, said customers are less likely to prefer multispace meters in cities with long blocks and hot weather.

"You can't ask someone to walk more than six spaces; they won't do it," she said. "They'll be confused and frustrated."

At $590,620, IPS was the lowest bidder but wasn't selected as a finalist. The highest bid was from Siemens at $1.9 million.

Before deciding to present Parkeon to the council, city officials reviewed proposals from 13 companies.

An evaluation team narrowed the field to four proposals and invited the selected companies to make presentations.

The companies made their demonstrations Nov. 27 without price information, so the evaluation team could judge the products on merit.

At a follow-up meeting, the price information was added, and the team selected Parkeon for negotiations. The evaluation team report said Parkeon's strengths included large display screens and ease of use.

Stanley seemed confident the proposal is the best for Las Vegas. She said the meters don't require people to place a ticket on the windshield of their car, a practice some meters require that means more walking for the customer.

She also said that by using multispace meters exclusively, Las Vegas is making it easier on customers parking throughout downtown and the medical district.

"You basically get the same experience at every single space in the system," she said.

Contact reporter Benjamin Spillman at bspillman@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0285 .