FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 24, 2014

MEDIA CONTACTS
Gwen Schuler, Media and Communications, gschuler@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-5160
Carrie McCausland, Media and Communications, cmccausland@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-2005

City Pilots New On-street Parking Meters in UWT Area

The City of Tacoma’s parking system is piloting new on-street parking meter machines in the University of Washington Tacoma area.

The new machines are in direct response to user requests for brighter and larger screens for nighttime use. The seven-inch color screen is more easily read in the evening, a handy feature with winter’s earlier nights approaching. The screens are customizable and may be used in the future to provide visitors with notices such as maps, promotions or event information. 

For the parking system, the machines offer real-time transaction, tampering and malfunction data. Management staff will be able to use this information to offer more immediate assistance to customers who encounter a difficulty.      

Like the current machines, the system is wireless and solar-powered. In addition, these machines have the added benefit of being 95 percent recyclable.   

Later this fall, parking system staff will seek customer feedback on how the machines are working.