Politics & Government

West Hartford to Replace Parking Meters with Pay Stations

West Hartford took the first step toward a transition from parking meters to pay stations with the Town Council's unanimous approval Tuesday night to allocation funding to purchase parking kiosks.

Funds for the kiosks - estimated to cost $470,000 - will come from the town's existing parking lot fund and not from the town's general fund.

This is just a first step, said Director of Public Works John Phillips who proposed the transition to pay stations. "The kiosks are definite; the rate structure is still to be determined," he said.

Once the pay stations are in place, customers will be able to pay for their parking using either coins or credit cards. In addition, if a customer needs to add time to their parking, that can be accomplished at any parking station by simply identifying the space in which the vehicle is parked.

"Better ability for parking compliance reduces the amount of tickets [that parking enforcement] will have to issue," Phillips said. It will also provide customers with a receipt.

Phillips said that the "smart" pay stations will open up greater opportunities to meet the needs of the 70,000 customers who park in West Hartford Center with adaptable payment platforms.

Regarding the rate structure, Phillips said a plan will be proposed in the near future. "Currently our cheapest parking space in town is a space that is in the most demand – our on-street parking space. By using strategic economic pricing we hope to shift some of the balance of on-street parking off the street and into one of our very accessible and safe parking garages," he said.

Phillips said that if plans proceed as scheduled, the equipment for the pay stations should be rolled out by the spring of 2014.


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