Trial run over for advanced meters
10/15/2009 by David Chapman Staff Writer For the last three months, drivers who came Downtown for business or shopping around the Yates Building, City Hall and Hemming Plaza might have noticed some technologically advanced parking meters in lieu of the basic green digitized and turnkey variety. If they tried to find them now, though, they’d be out of luck.The electronic meters — able to take credit and debit cards wirelessly, accept different coins and allow for three hours of parking instead of the standard two — were part of a three-month field trial throughout different parts of Downtown and were replaced Friday afternoon and sent back to makers IPS Group in San Diego. “The trial period is over,” said Bob Carle, chief of Parking Enforcement and Facilities division of the City’s Administration and Finance Department. “We’ve had almost all positive feedback from it … we didn’t have any registered complaints.” Complete data from the trial wouldn’t be available for a couple weeks, but Carle said from his perspective the project was a success. Chad Randall, COO of IPS Group, agreed with the idea of Jacksonville’s trial success and believed public perception showed expectations were met. Randall said around 50 meters were sent to Jacksonville as part of the trial, which IPS Group does with cities all over the country. The meters themselves are free during the process, but other fees were between individual cities and the company, as each is different, he added. “It gives the public a chance to experience them and try something different,” he said. For those looking forward to seeing such meters implemented all over Downtown, if it were to happen it could be some time. Funding issues for acquiring such meters to replace Downtown’s 1,400 meters wouldn’t happen overnight, said Carle. “Funding would not allow for a wholesale purchase,” he said. “It’d have to be a little bit at a time.” Randall said Jacksonville isn’t alone in that regard, and that it turns to a budget and policy decision for each city following trials. Still, he hopes the potential business relationship could materialize. “It’s an opportunity,” he said. “I hope they (officials, public) saw some of the benefits of the product.” dchapman@baileypub.com 356-2466
| 
