A jump in rates to pay for parking meters in Cincinatti will raise funds for a smartcard program in the city
Following a recent increase in Cincinnati’s parking meter rates to $2 per hour, transportation officials are developing a smartcard solution for parking payments.
The increase in cost, which will make Cincinnati’s parking rates one of the highest in the Midwest, was introduced to raise funds for the smartcard program proposed as a move to facilitate parking payments for the city’s residents and visitors.
"Meters are supposed to be convenient," said Councilman Chris Bortz, Cincinnati.com relays. "For it to be convenient, there has to be available spaces. So you want there to be turnover."
The full smartcard program will consist of solar-powered kiosks that will accept credit cards as well as the smartcards linked to an online account. The kiosks are expected to be opened after three months of climbing revenues from the increased parking rates, and will ultimately eliminate the need for coins at parking meters throughout the city.
Transportation authorities across the country have been implementing smartcard technology for more convenient payment methods. In June, parking meters in Charleston, South Carolina were adjusted to accept plastic card payments, a sign of continued success of the technology in the transportation sector.
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