Contemporary Approaches to Parking Pricing: - FHWA Operations

Multi-space Meters
The multi-space meter classification represents a broad assortment of payment and technology options. Multispace
meters are common with both on-street and off-street facilities and can support pay and display, pay by space,
and pay by license plate. While each of these has unique benefits and applications, all are capable of accepting coin
and credit card payments, real-time reporting, and dynamic pricing while reducing the clutter associated with
single-space meters. Specific options associated with multi-space meters are summarized below:
• Pay and display requires users to walk to a central pay station, make their payment, and place a receipt on their vehicle’s
dashboard. This option allows enforcement personnel to determine quickly if a vehicle is in violation of time
limits and, as long as time remains on users’ receipts, they can move within a parking district without making additional
payments. A disadvantage is that users may find it inconvenient to return to their vehicles after paying.
Also, if a pay-and-display station is out of service, multiple parking spaces are affected, resulting in lost revenue.
• Pay by space functions similarly to pay and display, but rather than placing a receipt on their dashboard, users enter
a space number associated with their parking space. Complaints are reduced because users do not need to return to
their vehicle, but enforcement personnel must pull reports to determine which occupied spaces may be in violation
of time limits, which can slow enforcement processes. It is possible to integrate this payment system with space
sensors, discussed below, to simplify the enforcement process. Pay by space removes the option that allows users
who still have parking time remaining to move to another space within a parking district without paying again. As
with pay and display, an out-of-service station will affect numerous parking spaces.
• Pay by license plate is very similar to pay by space; however, rather than entering a space number, users enter their
license plate number. The primary drawback is that some users do not know their license plate number or might
key it in wrong. As with pay and display, this option allows users with parking time remaining to travel within a
parking district without paying additional fees.
In-car Meters
In-car meters are small, programmable devices that hang from rearview mirrors and driver’s side grab bars (handles
located above the driver’s side window) or are placed on dashboards. The meters are pre-loaded with funds that are
deducted based on the location of a vehicle and duration that it is parked. When users arrive at a parking space they
select the appropriate parking zone, which tells the meter what parking rate to charge, and activate a timer that
deducts funds from the user’s account based on the time the vehicle is parked.
Reusable and disposable versions of in-car meters are available, and funds can be added over the phone, on the
Internet, or using smart cards that are inserted into the devices. Some in-car meters contain Global Positioning
System (GPS) cards that allow the meters to determine their location and automatically charge the appropriate rate.
Efforts are currently underway to integrate in-car meters into vehicle navigation systems, such as OnStar. In-car
meters offer an alternative to single-space and multi-space meters but do not typically replace those meters.
In-car meters allow users to pay only for the time they use, reduce the threat of vandalism, and yield higher levels of
compliance. Because money is loaded onto the meters before use, parking departments have the dual benefits of
receiving revenue up front while reducing collection costs. The ability to pay in the vehicle allows users to avoid
standing outside to pay at single-space meters or walking to multi-space meters. Unlike multi-space and smart meters,
however, in-car meters do not provide real-time information to parking managers. Some parking agencies have
also expressed the concern that visibly placed in-car meters are subject to theft.
C o n t e m p o r a r y A p p r o a c h e s t o P a r k i n g P r i c i n g | 9