Hi-Tech Parking Meters in Downtown Albany

How many times has this happened to you?  You are driving down a street, late for an appointment and looking for a parking space, when suddenly you see a spot.  You quickly parallel park and notice there is a parking meter that only takes quarters with 5 minutes left on it. 

You search frantically for any left over spare change in your car, pockets, and under the seat.  Finally after finding last week's spare french fry and straws from McDonalds you are able to scrounge up two quarters. Realizing the only bills you have on you are 20's, you decide to put the two quarters in and risk getting a parking ticket.  As you head to your appointment, in the corner of your eye you see the police traffic controller heading down the block.  When your appointment ends, you get back to your car and there on the windshield is parking ticket that was placed two minutes after your time expired.    It happens all the time and soon in downtown Albany this will be a thing of the past.

You will be able to pay with your credit or debit card beginning today in downtown Albany between Broadway and Eagle Streets.  The meters are solar powered and will also allow people to extend their time up to 10 hours.  Of course the longer you park the more you pay.

Instead of having a meter for every space, the new machines will be placed every 10 spaces out along the street and will print a receipt which will be displayed in the windshield with the time stamp side up.

These machines are already being used in many cities in the Capital Region including Troy - should they be successful in Albany more are sure to be installed.

One other thing; if you don't have a credit or debit card, they still will take nickels, dimes and quarters!