A New Yorker’s familiarity with the city has been put to the test in recent years, what with the last standing payphone removed, the announcement of MetroCards being phased out, and MTA station agents being relieved from the subway system’s glass token booths.
Now, officials have set their gaze on parking meters.
On Monday, April 8th, NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez unveiled upgraded, modern parking meters that will roll out citywide.
The new parking meters utilize paperless pay-by-plate technology, allowing users to pay for the meter by entering their license plate number at a kiosk or on the ParkNYC app (via the app’s payment system already in place) rather than having to display a receipt on their dashboard.
The fully digital meters will eliminate the roughly 2,500 miles worth of receipts printed each year by NYC parking meters–to put that into perspective 2,500 miles is enough to stretch from New York City to Los Angeles.
Beyond being more Earth-conscious–which comes just in time for Earth Day, might we add–the upgraded meters will also help provide more short-term parking by improving parking enforcement (NYPD traffic enforcement agents will have access to real-time data to to help ensure vehicles don’t overstay the meter).
NYC DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez stated:
Our new pay-by-plate parking meters are simple to use and will make short-term parking easier for everyone. 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 new pay-by-plate parking meters will be gradually rolled out in Upper Manhattan beginning Wednesday, May 8th, 2024, before eventually making their way around all 80,000 of NYC’s metered parking spaces.
The news comes shortly after NYC parking meter rates increased 20%.