MANCHESTER, NH – The city’s Parking Manager advised the Aldermanic Committee on Public Safety Health and Traffic that a new “pay by space” system will be installed at the Victory Parking Garage.
Parking Manager Denise Boutilier told the committee during the Feb. 6 meeting that the new system, known as an open-concept garage, is being operated successfully in other New Hampshire municipalities, including Dover, Concord and Nashua.
“The system is much more user-friendly,” said Boutilier. She explained that the greatest challenge for users of the system will be remembering to take note of their space number, required information at the updated parking kiosks. Estimated cost of the new system is $65,000.
Boutilier told the committee that a 20 percent increase in revenue is usually seen when meters are installed, and did not anticipate any negative fallout from the changeover.
“What happens with pay-by-space is the customer goes to a meter, punches in the space number and leaves. You don’t have to go back to the vehicle to leave a slip,” Boutilier said. Customers and parking officials can also interact with the system via Smart phone.
She said there will be an approximate three-week grace period to allow users to adjust to the system without penalty. The kiosks will accept credit, debit and coin.
Four kiosks similar to the one demonstrated in the YouTube video posted at the top of this story will be installed by the stairwells, Boutilier said.
The reason for the upgrade is that the current chip/coin system is antiquated and costly to upgrade, Boutilier said. The new system will be compatible with the EasyPark system that is currently available to residents, where customers pre-pay for parking and hang a digital display on their car window when parking at metered space. The Easy Park devices, which also are valid for parking in Dover and Portsmouth, cost $29.95 and come with $10 in parking credit pre-loaded). There is also a $1.10/month service fee per device (or $11 per year if annual membership is selected). Users can add credit to the device as needed using the Easy Park website.
Alderman Pat Long clarified with Boutilier whether parking rates would be going up with the new system.
“No,” Boutilier said. “The old system is just not compliant with credit card systems and right now we’re popping the gates at night, so nobody gets stuck in the garage, but the current system just isn’t functional anymore.”
No action was required by the committee, as this was an informational agenda item. The committee is passing along the information to the full board. No start date for the new system was immediately available.
