San Diego’s Where, When and WOW!

Promising to change the game by letting drivers leave their change at home, a slew of new parking meters will appear on San Diego’s sidewalks this month.

In June, City Council approved a contract with Sorrento Valley-based ips group, Inc., a leading manufacturer of “####smart” parking meters that can accept payment via credit cards and mobile apps. As part of the deal, the City will replace 97 percent of its meters, beginning with those in the most congested areas and completing the installation project by year’s end.

“Our most utilized meters are located in the Downtown and Uptown Community Parking Districts,” says Jonathan Carey, San Diego’s Parking Program Manager. “To get immediate benefit from the increased efficiencies, and to provide an enhanced parking experience for our customers, we will start in these districts.”

Although the meters offer greater convenience for drivers, the undertaking’s primary intent is to collect data, which is fed straight from the devices to the city continuously and wirelessly.

“With our new meters, the City will be able to see real-time statistics and trends so that we can effectively manage on-street metered parking,” says Carey. “We can see how much coin is in the cup, if a meter is paid or expired, its battery status, transaction history and any maintenance concerns.”

“With our new meters, the City will be able to see real-time statistics and trends so that we can effectively manage on-street metered parking,” says Carey. “We can see how much coin is in the cup, if a meter is paid or expired, its battery status, transaction history and any maintenance concerns.”

“With our new meters, the City will be able to see real-time statistics and trends so that we can effectively manage on-street metered parking,” says Carey. “We can see how much coin is in the cup, if a meter is paid or expired, its battery status, transaction history and any maintenance concerns.”

“With our new meters, the City will be able to see real-time statistics and trends so that we can effectively manage on-street metered parking,” says Carey. “We can see how much coin is in the cup, if a meter is paid or expired, its battery status, transaction history and any maintenance concerns.”