Smart Meters Come to Downtown Jacksonville

[mtraininjax]

I like the way you think, you are progressive and I think you'd make a great mayor!

[GENTRY]

I feel sorry for any individual who will charge fifty cents or one dollar on their credit card. That statement is based upon the detail in the image of the meter above (.50 per hour, max. stay two hours). And if anyone wishes to argue the point that they'd drop quarters in instead; There's still no point in replacing the meters. That's what the current ones accept already. These meters also increase the risk of fraud in the area of identity theft. Additionally. What are the odds of the Sun charging these meters regularly considering the actual lack of sunshine we get in Jacksonville? How long will these meters hold their charge? Will they hold their charge until morning before the sun hits them again? What happens if any particular meter is shaded throughout the day by tall buildings and doesn't get enough sunlight? These meters are a complete waste of money that can better be spent on more relevant items and/or services. It's simply more frivolous spending by the city.

[thelakelander]

In reality, the meters ought to be pulled up and trashed if there are no plans to expand them to public streets all across the county.  This isn't 1950.  DT has more parking spaces than people.  The whole system is archaic and stymies downtown growth because it creates and uneven playing field and obstacle that does not exist in the burbs and other commercial districts.

[stjr]

DT has more parking spaces than people.  The whole system is archaic and stymies downtown growth because it creates and uneven playing field and obstacle that does not exist in the burbs and other commercial districts.

Actually, Lake, the City has a conspiracy going on with the parking lots and garages to eliminate all street parking over time.  Haven't you noticed the "no parking" zones continuously expanding?  We have well under half the street parking we had 20 years ago by my estimate.  The only reason it's not more obvious is because so many fewer people visit downtown today than in the past.  Should we somehow ever change that, finding street parking will be a fight to the death.

They now prevent you from parking within almost half a block of some corners and driveways.  Subtract the never-used delivery zones, handicapped spaces, emergency vehicle accesses, fire hydrants, added driving lanes, "official vehicle" spaces, permitted parking spaces, rush hour prohibitions, $ky-high-way support column islands, and the umpteen other made up reasons to disallow curb parking, and it's getting nigh impossible to find a space regardless of it being metered or not.  My bet is that within about 5 years, no curb side parking will be available in the core of downtown.

[BridgeTroll]

I drive and park on the streets of downtown daily.  I have NEVER not found an on street metered spot to park within 2 blocks of my destination.  The perception of the lack of parking downtown needs to stop.  It simply is not true.

[thelakelander]

Same for me.  I typically find a street metered spot within a block or two of my desired DT destination.  Much closer to the front door or vendor than parking at your local Walmart or mall.

[stjr]

Same for me.  I typically find a street metered spot within a block or two of my desired DT destination.  Much closer to the front door or vendor than parking at your local Walmart or mall.

I drive and park on the streets of downtown daily.  I have NEVER not found an on street metered spot to park within 2 blocks of my destination.  The perception of the lack of parking downtown needs to stop.  It simply is not true.

You find parking "easily" Downtown because the only major reason to park there during the WEEKDAY's is to visit government operations and that can be hit or miss. Even with government, in better times and before some functions were relocated to the Ed Ball building, by 9 AM. the riverfront public lot serving the Courthouse and City Annex (old City Hall) was usually full.  So bad was parking, the courts had to come up with a special arrangement for jurors.  Now, if you visit a bank or professional in an office building, or even the River Club, they usually provide parking in a garage for you so you wouldn't be as likely to notice.

My main point is if we had anything approaching the vibrant Downtown everyone says we are looking for, and that we once had, with with department and specialty stores, corporate offices, a major post office, newsstands, service providers, dentists and doctors, residential, more hotels, eateries, and nightlife, etc., I think it's obvious the existing metered parking couldn't begin to support such higher levels of activity.  And, the shortage would be greatly magnified by the reduction in spaces I perceive to have taken place over the last few decades.

If you want to get a "simulation" of how "fragile" metered parking is, see how quickly it fills up when the Florida Theater or T-U Center has a full house.  Now imagine those events, shopping, and a bevy of restaurants and night spots ongoing simultaneously, and a major group of corporate offices bringing in vendors, prospective customers and potential employees for interviews.  Add a few "visitors" for the hoped for Downtown residents.  Suddenly, you will realize how many curb spots are unavailable.

I'm telling you, over the last 2 or 3 decades, street parking has been substantially reduced.  I remember how hard it was to find spaces when Downtown had department stores AND a lot more parking.  We could drive around the block multiple times before finding a spot.

As originally stated, the only reason the reduction may not be more obvious is because there is so little reason for "visits" to today's Downtown.

Let's see if my perception is on target.  Maybe Lake you could ask the City to give you a history of the number of meters in an apples to apples core Downtown area.  Let's see what the raw and the "per capita" numbers are today versus in the past.

[xjm8611]

Yes, I agree it's about time. And that's all I have to say on that.

[thelakelander]

So a smart meter only costs $650?  I wonder how much does a single pay station cost?

The design elements of the Laura Street improvement project lean toward the “historic” but the way they work is more toward the 21st century.

The first of 50 state-of-the-art parking meters have been installed on the south end of the street between Bay Street and the Landing.

They have solar panels that recharge the internal battery, which powers an LCD readout and a wireless Internet connection that transmits the payments made with Visa or Mastercard.

The payments for an entire day are recorded at Bank of America and then a single transaction is processed and transferred to the account of the Tax Collector, said Bob Carle, chief of the City’s Parking Facilities and Enforcement Division.

The meters were tested last year in a pilot program. Several were installed at parking spaces under the Skyway tracks to make sure there was enough ambient light Downtown, even in the shade, to maintain the battery’s charge.

Carle said each meter costs $650, which is $300 more than a traditional meter that takes only quarters.

The decision to install $32,500 worth of parking meters in four blocks was “purely for the convenience of people who come Downtown,” said Carle.

“There’s a price for progress,” he said.

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/downtowntoday.php?dt_date=2011-02-01

[simms3]

I hate single pay stations, so I hope taxpayers are ok with a little extra expense for very much added convenience.

I use single pay stations at least 3x a week.  They are slow, user unfriendly, will rip you the hell off if you aren't paying attention or you're a novice, and you have to pay attention to your spot very closely.  They aren't "much" more user friendly than quarter meters, which I actually prefer since it gives me a way to get rid of loose change.

[stjr]

I parked on the "square" in St. Augustine a few weeks ago.  Being a local lifer, it's still hard for me to come to terms with paying parking in St. Augustine (or Jax, for that matter) after all these years.  But, St. Augustine seems intent on blanketing everything around today with meters or "no parking".  Would probably need to walk close to a mile to escape them.  That's OK for me, but not going to sell the family on it.  And, I couldn't resist the best parking spot on the square right at St. George street on a crowded Saturday afternoon.  

They have the single pay stations every four or so parking spaces.  I found them to be most convenient.  Took my credit card, printed a receipt with the time expiration to post in my window, and gave me up to 3 hours (which I took).  I suppose if one machine doesn't work, you can walk a few more paces to find another one.  Hopefully, they don't all malfunction at once!

Not only was the machine (maybe it's a different model than Simms used) convenient, simple, and affordable ($1.50/hour for prime parking), but I suppose it yields more $$ for the City of St. Augustine.  If you leave before time expires, they can resell the same time over and over.  Parking meters can't do that.

[thelakelander]

They also don't clutter up the sidewalk.

[simms3]

Personal preferences.  I have used the model in the picture above, as well as two different models.  I don't care for them because I know that they can be designed better and I know they are capable of being faster.  I can tell you one thing: engineers from Georgia Tech did not have any input on the design or functionality of these things.

At this point, I have a ton of quarters and they are easier for me to use.  I like the option of using a card for when I don't have quarters, but nothing beats the ease of use and convenience of slipping in a few quarters.  Seems cheaper, too.  (I pay between $1.50 and $5.00 an hour with machine vs. $1.00/hr with quarters)

[thelakelander]

I like the option of using a card for when I don't have quarters, but nothing beats the ease of use and convenience of slipping in a few quarters.

Except when you have everything but them.  This is the 21st century.  The majority of people don't walk around with a pocket full of quarters anymore.  I can't tell you the amount of times I've ended up avoiding going someplace downtown during the day because of not having enough quarters on me and refusing to pay $3 hour to park in a garage.  That's always been my main gripe with our archaic meters.  If you're going to charge people, at least be end user friendly.

[Jason]

I parked on the "square" in St. Augustine a few weeks ago.  Being a local lifer, it's still hard for me to come to terms with paying parking in St. Augustine (or Jax, for that matter) after all these years.  But, St. Augustine seems intent on blanketing everything around today with meters or "no parking".  Would probably need to walk close to a mile to escape them.  That's OK for me, but not going to sell the family on it.  And, I couldn't resist the best parking spot on the square right at St. George street on a crowded Saturday afternoon. 

They have the single pay stations every four or so parking spaces.  I found them to be most convenient.  Took my credit card, printed a receipt with the time expiration to post in my window, and gave me up to 3 hours (which I took).  I suppose if one machine doesn't work, you can walk a few more paces to find another one.  Hopefully, they don't all malfunction at once!

Not only was the machine (maybe it's a different model than Simms used) convenient, simple, and affordable ($1.50/hour for prime parking), but I suppose it yields more $$ for the City of St. Augustine.  If you leave before time expires, they can resell the same time over and over.  Parking meters can't do that.

I agree STJR.  I live about 5 minutes outside of town and visit quite frequently.  I've found the meters (although pricey) to be a much better alternative to having to rummage for quarters.  The city garage is also a well placed and cheap/convenient place to park in DT St. Augustine.  I much prefer to drive into town knowing that I can find decent parking at the garage nearby to most locations I frequent versus driving around looking for a vacant spot.

Jacksonville's outlying parking garages should be doing the same for DT however they are not near where anyone wants to go or the skyway serving them is not convenient or closed.