Austin joins cities across the U.S. and elsewhere in shifting away from individually-metered spaces and towards pay stations in an effort to increase revenue and efficiencies.
"On Thursday, the City Council will vote on an $8.4 million contract with New-Jersey-based Parkeon for up to 750 solar-powered parking kiosks that accept coins and credit and debit cards. Parkeon would install 500 kiosks in and near downtown in September, October and November.
Austin's current 3,800 coin-only meters are 13 years old, and they broke 14,000 times last year, causing the city to lose as much as $500,000 in fees, fines and staff time.
'The existing meters were only designed to last 10 years,' said Robert Spillar, Austin's director of transportation. Spillar said the city plans to replace most of the old meters.
The kiosks are expected to last 15 years. Austin would pay for them using short-term debt. The parking fees would pay off the debt in eight to 10 years, Spillar said. But starting next year, the city should have money left over each year after making its debt payments and would use it for traffic, road and sidewalk improvements, he said.
Each kiosk would replace eight to 11 meters and would be about 6 feet tall, 10 inches wide and 10 inches deep, Spillar said. The kiosks print receipts showing the date and parking expiration time. Drivers post the receipts inside their cars, and they would be allowed to move to other spaces and still use remaining time."
Read the full story: City may replace parking meters with solar-powered kiosks
Austin Waymos rack up nearly $10k in parking tickets
The robotaxis have been cited for parking in tow zones and double parking, among other violations.
Portland Raises Parking Fees to Pay for Street Maintenance
The city is struggling to bridge a massive budget gap at the Bureau of Transportation, which largely depleted its reserves during the Civd-19 pandemic.
Reimagining the Curb: How Smart Curb Management is Transforming Urban Mobility
Modern demands for curbside space call for new ways to manage and allocate it.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
Colorado’s Largest Data Center Could Rise Next to Homes — Without a Public Hearing
The proposed campus would consume 11 times the power of Denver International Airport; as it has across the country, opposition mounts.
Nation's most wind-powered state turns to coal as data centers increase energy demand
For the first time in decades, Iowa has increased its generation of coal power.
NYC cools commuters with city's first rain garden above a bus stop
New York City officials say the plants in the rain garden can absorb 16 gallons of rainwater during heavy storms.
Brightline West’s future may rely on $6 billion federal loan
The company has until Nov. 2 to make a $400 million equity investment into its proposed high-speed rail line.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Greater Baltimore Committee
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association