Los Angeles Unveils Credit
Card-Friendly Parking Meters
The city of Los Angeles has announced on
Wednesday to replace 10,000 coin-operated
meters with their smart counterparts, making
it possible for motorists to pay using
credit and debit cards.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa with community
members unveiling the new type of parking
meter installed early this morning in Los
Feliz on Hillhurst Ave. (LADOT Photo)
Termed "Coin and Card," the Transportation
Department plans to install these high-tech
machines in high-traffic areas by July 1.
Officials estimate that the new meters will
bring in an additional 1 million to 1.5
million U.S. dollars in revenue each year,
roughly a half of the city's annual parking
meter revenue.
"Instead of carrying a bagful of quarters to
feed the meter, drivers will now be able to
pay quickly and conveniently with a credit
card," Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said at a
press conference held earlier in the
morning.
The upgraded parking meters will charge the
same rate as the old ones, and accept Visa,
Mastercard and Discover. Revenue from
parking meters has increased nearly 40
percent in areas where the new parking
systems have been installed, the officials
said.
When all of the "Coin and Card" meters are
in place, the city will have upgraded 37
percent of its 40,000 meters, according to
the mayor's office.
The new meters don't break as often as their
coin-operated counterparts -- one of the
common problems plaguing the old system,
according to officials. Five hundreds of the
upgraded meters are already on-line as part
of a pilot program.
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