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Meters don't make the grade
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(Juan Carlos Pometta Betancourt/Special to The Examiner)
Future shock: Burlingame has decided not to adopt the use of "smart meters." Don’t expect to receive a cell phone call from your parking meter anytime soon on the Peninsula, unless you’re in Redwood City. Redwood City became the first city in the county to install the vaunted “smart meters” for downtown parking in early 2007, with the eyes of city officials across the region focused on the innovative device. Burlingame, the first city to evaluate Redwood City’s meters, decided this week not to use what authorities have called a confusing and expensive contraption. Redwood City had lauded the meters, which can be fed using cash, credit cards and even a cell phone, as a solution to its downtown parking woes. The solar-powered meters cost the city $400,000 and charge rates based on the popularity of the street. Drivers can even have the meter call them when parking time is running out and press a button to add more minutes, without worrying about time limits. Burlingame, however, has decided the meters are too costly and that Redwood City has received too many complaints about its system to warrant installing its own smart meters, said City Manager Jim Nantell. Parkers have complained the system is too confusing and breaks down too easily compared to “dumb meters” that take coins. “We were watching Redwood City with interest and they got a ton of complaints about it,” said Councilwoman Terry Nagel. “When a new technology comes along everyone wants to have it right away, but there are usually some bugs to work out.” To offset the cost of the meter system, Burlingame police would have had to hike parking rates or take away other traffic services, said Sgt. Don Shepley. “People don’t seem to like using them,” Nantell said. Despite its problems, Burlingame officials admitted they were still a bit tantalized by the meters’ potential. The city has long received complaints about downtown parking, particularly on and around Burlingame Avenue, and thought the smart meters could have been a solution, Nagel said. “I still think it would be wonderful to have, but I think [our police] convinced me that the costs are too high and the technology is not where it needs to be,” Nagel said. San Mateo does have “pay by space” meters inside downtown garages, but nothing as sophisticated at Redwood City’s system, said San Mateo Community Development Director Bob Beyer. Those machines are similar to smart meters in that everyone from a block or lot pays at the same location. Price to pay“Smart” parking meters’ strengths and weaknesses Pros Can pay using credit card No time limit Calls to avoid fines Solar powered Cons Confusing to use Break down easily Wait times at meters More expensive to city Source: City of Burlingame
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