Further roll out of new parking system in Palmerston North
The City's new parking system is being rolled out to further sites across the city tonight.
The roll-out is part of a city-wide trial of new parking technology developed by a Palmerston North based company.
The new system moves away from Pay-and-display tickets to an electronically monitored system which removes the need to place a ticket in the car windscreen.
The system has been trialled in small areas of the city since late last year, and is now ready for implementation throughout the Central Business District.
The next streets to begin using the new system will be:
• Ashley St – from Church St to Ferguson St
• Cross St - from Ashley St to Donnington St
• Donnington St – from Ferguson to end
• Main St - from The Square to Princess St
• Broadway Ave – from The Square to Princess St
• The Square North - from Coleman to Broadway Ave
• The Square West – from Church St to Coleman
• The Square South – from Church St West to Church East
• The Square East – from Church St to Broadway
The new system requires motorists to take note of the bay number they have parked their car in before moving to the parking meter. Bay numbers are found on the edge of the footpath directly in front of the car park. Instructions will be clearly displayed on each meter to guide people through the new procedures at the machine.
The new system, which operates on sensor technology, records when a vehicle enters or leaves a car park removing the need for parking wardens to “chalk the tyres”. The sensors do not have the capability to record any details about individual vehicles.
Other than the changes to the parking meters there is no change to the parking strategy operating in the city. Parking charges and time limits will remain the same and there will be no change to the current “grace period” allowed to motorists who have not returned to their vehicle before their parking has expired.
The new system will improve the Council’s ability to plan parking throughout the city by providing information on how often car parks are used, where they are used and the average time cars are parked in each area.
Receipts will still be available from the parking meters for those who require them for business purposes.