5/11/2012 - City Begins Installation of New Parking Stations
Solar powered pay stations will improve accessibility and ease of street parking

What: This Monday, the City of Portland will begin installation of new parking pay stations along the land side of Commercial Street, Fore Street, Federal Street near the Cumberland County Court House and Free Street as well as near the Maine Medical Center in the West End (map and instructions). This pilot program will replace the city’s coin operated meters at these locations. The new solar powered pay stations will improve ease and accessibility of parking within the city. The eighteen pay stations will accept coin, debit and credit cards and allow more vehicles to park along the street. The new stations will also create neater, cleaner streetscapes, which should improve sidewalk snow removal during the winter.

Instructive signs will be installed at these locations as well to help motorists unfamiliar with operating a parking pay stations. After parking their car, motorists will walk to the pay station and pay for the desired amount of parking (a one hour minimum applies for credit cards) and then print a receipt. The receipt should then be displayed face up inside the vehicle on the dashboard. The receipt will identify the date, amount of parking time purchased and when the parking time expires. Parking receipts purchases at the new parking stations can be used at all metered spots in the city.

Between the hours of 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM, Monday thru Saturday, $1.00 per hour parking is enforced at these locations with a two hour parking limit. The new pay stations will be installed throughout the week and the program will go live May 21, 2012. The city’s Capital Improvement Program funded the purchase of the machines, installation, accompanying signs and ongoing maintenance for $175,000.

When: Monday, May 14, 2012
9:00 AM

Where: Commercial Street (across from the Dry Dock, in front of Key Bank), Portland


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Pay Stations Map and Pay Stations Instructions