Phase 2 installation of updated parking meters underway

Phase 2 installation of updated parking meters underway

Kirstin Davis, communications manager, 509.625.7773

Wednesday, October 12, 2022 at 11:37 am

This week, the City of Spokane Valet Service is installing the second phase of new single and dual on-street parking meters in the downtown metered parking area. This is the next step in the on-street parking renovation project that began with the Downtown Parking Study in 2019. The 90-page study provides an assessment of all downtown parking lots, curb activity, policy review and recommendations for modernizing the on-street parking system.

“Fully equipping the city center with modern devices creates a better parking experience for customers,” said Steve MacDonald, Community & Economic Development Director.

ParkMobile will become the exclusive payment provider for mobile apps starting Friday, October 14th. Passport is expiring as the contract was not renewed. Customers who have leftover funds in Passport wallets will be refunded to their credit card or check if left over; or tagged with a $2.40 digital coupon code at ParkMobile if they have less than two dollars to spare. Pass customers can learn more about refunds on the city’s website.

Where will updated gauges be installed?

Phase 2 meters will be installed east of Washington through Division and south of Spokane Falls Blvd. to First Avenue with few exceptions. See map below.

Advantages:

• Payment options: Meters accept credit/debit cards, coins and mobile payments for more flexibility.
• More information: Parking meters will provide parking customers with more information on the devices, such as B. Time status, reservation information and payment instructions.
• Better visibility: Gauges will be color coded according to time limits for better visibility. Customers can see the remaining time and payment receipt on the counter. 2-hour counters are purple, 4-hour counters are blue, and full-day counters are green.
• Consistency: Meters on a block face are the same time limits. Two-hour time limits are purple, four-hour time limits are blue, and all-day fields are green.
• Convenient and accessible: On-street parking customers will experience increased parking availability, as there will be fewer length of stay violations, reducing “circling the block” and waiting for a space to be cleared.
• Room Makeover: Currently there is a meter for each street parking space. Most of the new meters will be “dual-space,” meaning there will be one meter for two spaces. This removes almost half of the meters within the inner city core. The unused posts will be removed or repurposed for bike racks.
• Improved Service: With less and less reliable equipment, parking enforcement specialists can improve the health and safety of the community by having more resources to respond to unsafe violations.

What can customers expect from on-street parking?

• For a few years there will be a combination of new devices and old meters through the toll area on the street. New meters will be concentrated in the downtown core, old meters will be in the outer parts of the metered parking area.
• New devices accept all forms of payment, old devices only accept coin and mobile payments and can no longer accept credit card payments.

• The online parking map will be in transition during install events and will not be accurate until the end of the install week. Lanes must not be obstructed.
• Mobile app payments require a $1.20 minimum fee.

• Paid street parking can only be used once per day for the maximum length of stay in the zone.
• Each block area is a separate zone.
• Updated meters with digital screens can accept coins, credit cards and the ParkMobile mobile app, phone and online payments.
• Disabled parking permits allow free parking for up to four hours, regardless of the length of stay.

Reserved parking spaces are marked with red or orange No Parking signs indicating the times when they are unavailable. Parking customers can also use the space outside the reserved time. Vehicles parked in reserved spaces within the time indicated on the sign are subject to a fine and towing.