Cale America introducing multi-space meter parking program in Portland, Maine

The City of Portland is on a trial basis introducing multi-space-meters in parts of the city. Initially 18 meters were installed on Monday, May 14th and these go live on May 21st. The use of multi-space meters is something which is not all that common everywhere in the US, and thus this modern parking scheme has generated a lot of publicity.

The meters have many advantages compared to traditional single-space-meters. A few examples:

• They accept coins and credit card payment, and there is a coin escrow, which allows the return of coins if a purchase is cancelled.
• They are solar powered; more environmentally friendly and cheaper in operation, allowing for battery change outs every 5 years , instead of every 8 months.
• They are PCI compliant; higher security for the card holder, and rec eipt is printed to show immediate proof of payment.
• Parking spaces will be better managed; as for example the parking area might be more efficiently used depending on the size of the parked cars.
• Increased customer convenience; you get a paper receipt indicating date, time and expiration time, which is placed face up on the das hboard of your vehicle. If you want to leave the parking space before the paid for time has expired, you can park your car elsewhere using the same ticket, as long as it is still valid.

  

The main purpose with this project, according to Portland parking manager John Peverada is to “improve the customer experience and customer satisfaction”. However, officials believe that the new meters may increase revenues too, as they are more convenient.

The goal of the project is to replace all 1,500 of the older single space meterswith a new Cale meter. Each new meter will cover about 10 spaces.