NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – New York City will switch to a completely digital parking meter system, reducing its carbon footprint, the Department of Transportation announced on Monday.
The DOT is moving to a "pay-by-plate" system, where drivers will enter their license plate numbers into a sidewalk digital machine to pay for parking. New Yorkers will be able to pay the meter at a kiosk or use the ParkNYC app. This new system is paperless meaning no receipts will be required, which officials said uses more than 2,500 miles of receipt rolls every year.
“Our new pay-by-plate parking meters are simple to use and will make short-term parking easier for everyone,” NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said in a statement. “Drivers will no longer need to worry about leaving a paper receipt on their dashboard and can use the convenience of the ParkNYC app to pay the meter while on the go.”
The model will reduce the carbon footprint, cut maintenance, prevent transferring parking time to a different zone or vehicle, according to the DOT. The meters will also provide real-time data to NYPD traffic enforcement officers allowing them to check whether cars are parked past their time.
The new digital meters will begin showing up in Upper Manhattan in May and then spread through Northern Manhattan and further south, covering all 80,000 of the city’s metered parking spaces. After that, meter upgrades will reach Queens, the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Staten Island.
“Incorporating evolving, smart technology into New York City's parking management system will enhance drivers’ experiences, "NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban said. “This will be achieved by maximizing space availability and increasing turnover. Importantly, it will facilitate the important work of our dedicated traffic enforcement agents and support our city's overall public-safety mission.”