Philadelphia might soon be going high-tech in the field of parking. The Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) is thinking of more modern ways of paying when it comes to feeding the meter.
The PPA is looking at smart meters which take credit cards but pay-by-phone solutions also gained their attention. Costs for using WIFI and the Internet should also be taken into account, according to PPA's executive director, Vince Fenerty.
As the PPA is phasing out its smartcards, they're also looking into which parts do work well, such as the slots for paper money. The city installed multi-space kiosks in 2009 where drivers can pay electronically, but in some neighboorhoods in philadelphia one might still find old meters. The parking authority is now looking into the possibilities to install newer, high-end meters.
A lot of other cities already have gained experience with different ways of parking payments, while Philadelphia is a bit slower when it comes to implementing newer, modern ways of payments, so the PPA is able to learn from other cities experiences.
At www.philapark.org you can follow public alerts and stay informed on Philly's parking info.
