SINGLE-SPACE PARKING METER PILOT BEGINS IN MAGOUN SQUARE

"Working with the IPS Group out of San Diego, our
single-space meter pilots in Davis and Union Squares have proven very
successful and beneficial to both drivers and local businesses," said Mayor
Joseph A. Curtatone.  "Though we are
extremely happy with the IPS meters that make payments easier by offering
credit card options, we are considering a wider-scale purchase based on the overwhelmingly
positive feedback, and felt it was important to sample more than one product
before taking this next significant step.  I hope this pilot program will
set the groundwork to overhaul our entire meter fleet, thereby making residents'
and visitor and business owners' interactions with our parking system easier
and more efficient."

The 30 new meters accept quarters, Visa and
MasterCards.  Color-coded key panels and
large LCD screens are also designed to make transactions easy and intuitive for
motorists.  In addition to the payment
convenience, the new meters offer solar powered, real-time wireless
communications that will lower maintenance needs and increase efficiency.

"The additional pilot program will allow the City to
further its experiment with another vendor and better determine the best and
most cost-effective product for a potential full scale implementation," said
Matthew Dias, Acting Director of Traffic and Parking. "With the additional
forms of payment options, we have already seen positive outcomes: a drop in the
number of parking violations and ticketing, customer satisfaction due to the
multiple payment options, and no more searching for quarters when looking to
park."