Smart Meters Come to Downtown Jacksonville

[Metro Jacksonville]

Smart Meters Come to Downtown Jacksonville



Back in 2006, Metro Jacksonville pushed the City Council, the JEDC, and the Public Parking Division to invest in Smart Parking Meter Technology.  Unfortunately, the will to move forward was not there, or so it seemed.  However, those efforts came to fruition last week with the installation of Jacksonville's first Smart Parking Meters.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2009-jun-smart-meters-come-to-downtown-jacksonville

[JeffreyS]

This is much better. I am not the biggest parking meter believer but at least now you won't need to avoid downtown due to not having exact change.

[heights unknown]

Well, well; modern technology.  No surprise here.  Wait a few years from now when they come out with meters that will scan the microchip in your hand or forehead.

Heights Unknown

[5PointsGuy]

I'm a bit partial to the forehead idea...

[halimeade]

I was just in Portland a couple weeks ago, where they use the electronic pay stations for street parking. It was amazingly convenient and efficient. I liked that the receipt was actually a sticker you stuck on the inside of the curbside window of your car- no falling off the dashboard, and easy for the meter maids to check, with the date an expiration time clearly provided. I hope these electronic meters are just as successful.

[jeh1980]

I'm extremely pleased to see something new popping in to downtown. A very nice change even if it is one item at a time.

[Rocshaboc]

About time Jax. Come on and wake up sleepy town. Its ok to catch up with the times.

[Ocklawaha]

Would have been MUCH cheaper to scrap all of the meters and transfer those fees to garage and parking lot spaces, then simply go with free timed parking on the grid. This just takes us into phase II of a really bad urban killing idea.

OCKLAWAHA

[jeh1980]

About time Jax. Come on and wake up sleepy town. Its ok to catch up with the times.

What?!   Aw, come on! Don't we all think that this city is trying to do so? 

[stephendare]

All I can say is that its about time.

We worked tirelessly on this issue, both from the merchant's perspective as well as through the site.

I don't know how many of these committee meetings we had to sit through, arguing with the old guy at the jeweler's downtown about the subject.

I think the turning point came when Ron Barton heard the same story from The MOCA jacksonville and Library as well as most of the merchants that the parking enforcement was killing downtown.

Elaine Brown suggested Smart Meters, in her committee meeting on the subject, it seems like a hundred years ago.

Thanks Elaine.   Its about time they got it done.

[stephendare]

Steve, great update and article.

I also ran across this old post from our Metjax days:

http://metjax.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3311

Proposed Parking Solutions.
In response to several requests for a summation of the proposed solutions:

philosophy.

We feel that the philosophy and mission statement of whatever parking commission might exist should be "To serve Jacksonville residents and businesses with their parking needs, aid and inform citizens on locations and best parking options, exhibit the best forms of customer service, and above all to serve the interests of the public and public safety."

The job of the parking department is not to bully, harm, force or to intimidate citizens or to discourage businesses from succeeding.

inventory
Meters, Garages and Lots.
That the meters for streetside parking be set at times appropriate to use, determined by a consensus of the businesses and civic leaders, and that they not carry any maximum time limits. so long as the meter is paid.

That garages which are paid for by public funds should keep the bottom floors open to public parking at rates consistent with other cities like Indianapolis' downtown (1 dollar for 4 hours)

That single level parking lots be discouraged and assessed appropriate per spot parking taxes, with the funds being disbursed for appropriate and user friendly signage directing parkers to open lots and garages.


policies
penalties, rules, ordinances, enforcement.

That the egregious new penalties put into place be abolished and that the former 5 dollar fines be reinstated for parking infractions.  (incomplete)

That the tedious rules measuring the distance to and from a parking meter be abolished, (done)

that the pernicious requirement that parkers move their car outside of a four block radius be abolished, (done)

that the prohibition against meter feeding be abolished--although the behavior admonished by enforcement. (done)

That onstreet parking be available only after the hour of 930am except for delivery vehicles.   (incomplete)


That the entire bloody force be retrained to function as customer service agents whose job titles would include helping people to find parking and educating people about appropriate parking behavior.   (incomplete)


That in all cases people should be encouraged to come and REMAIN in the downtown core area in order to promote healthy and vibrant business activity and that whatever aid in parking as the parking officers may render that they be REQUIRED to render it.   (incomplete)


Additional recommendations:
That for a period of six months, a parking meter fine amnesty be extended throughout downtown from thursday afternoon to monday mornings to encourage people to come downtown and try out the shops and cultural institutions. (including Art Walk Wednesday after the hour of 2pm.   (incomplete)


That the city replace the antique mechanical meters with credit card and cell phone compatible versions of the type that have been employed in other cities.  (done)

And that I think sums up the needed changes to downtowns parking mayhem....extra emphasis on the monies to be spent on the appropriate "P" signage for parking.   (incomplete)

Last edited by Stephendare : 11-04-2006 at 12:11 PM.

[Steve]

What?!   Aw, come on! Don't we all think that this city is trying to do so?

Sometime I feel like the city is "trying" like the kid that got off the short bus is trying to win a sprint against world class athletes.

Seriously - St. Augustine has them now.  How hard was this, really?  I guarantee revenue collection will rise significantly with these meters.

[BOfficer]

Glad we are finally stepping up.  City image is so important in attracting better business to the area. 

[heights unknown]

I'm a bit partial to the forehead idea...

Anyone who has the microchip, chip or mark in the forehead will be the highly esteemed intellectuals and the wealthy, i.e., Donald Trump, millionaires, executives, people with PHD's, Master's degrees, etc., and anyone else who is highly esteemed.

Everyone else will have it in the web between the thumb and first finger in the right hand.

www.greaterthings.com/News/Chip_Implants/index.html

Heights Unknown

[Omarvelous09]

YESSS!!! i love this things. I hope they're the ones that charge your card directly when you go over time, so when the meter bi*ches come along...all they have to do is look up the receipt number, and the info is updated **no tickets**. fancy