Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Release #06-38

Contact: Kay Sarlin (212) 442-7033
Ted Timbers

DOT Expands the Number of Credit Card Friendly Parking Meters in the City

New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Iris Weinshall today announced that after a successful trial period, the City will be expanding the number of meters that accept credit cards. As of June 17th, DOT will have updated 300 additional meters with the credit card feature, bringing the City total to 500.

“DOT is utilizing new technologies to make life easier for New Yorkers,” said DOT Commissioner Iris Weinshall. “The data we gathered over the last six months shows that people like having the option to pay with their credit card, so we’re going to expand the program to give the option to more New Yorkers.”

During the six month pilot, which began last November, 200 muni-meters in Manhattan’s theater district (West 43rd Street to West 56th Street, between Fifth Avenue and Broadway) were equipped to accept major credit cards in addition to coins and the NYC Pre-Paid Parking Card. During this time, DOT gathered data from the meters and found that personal credit cards were the chosen form of payment 20% of the time.

The current expansion of the program will equip meters from West 42nd Street to West 57th Street, between Broadway and 8 th Avenue. The meters will be outfitted with instructional decals and fliers will be distributed to educate the public about the new payment alternative. Upgrading the meters will cost $90,000.

During the next twelve months DOT will be updating meters to accept credit cards on high volume corridors in Queens, elsewhere in Manhattan and at all of the municipal parking lots throughout the City.

In Queens meters will be updated along Queens Boulevard under the 7-line in Long Island City, at Queens College in Flushing, along Skillman Avenue in Long Island City, and along Austin Street in Forrest Hills. In Manhattan meters will be updated along 72nd Street and Columbus Avenue on the Upper West Side.

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