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A trial period to find new parking pay stations launched this week when municipal officials installed meters provided by two vendors, Parkeon and IPS Group, city officials announced Wednesday afternoon in a news release.

The trial period, being used to evaluate the performance of the two meters, is expected to run through June 29.

“Our goal with this trial program is to evaluate different pay station technologies that are available in the marketplace and decide whether to select a new technology based on a variety of factors,”  Transportation Manager Mike Manzella said in a written statement. “We are looking for a better solution to improve the user experience when paying for parking, and the functionality of the meters is just one avenue.”

Manzella said the machines feature updated technology and solar panels. In the case of the IPS machine there is a back lit keyboard, while the Parkeon machine has an E-Ink screen similar to that of a Kindle making it easier to read during bright sunlight. Both machines have internal seals around the doors to ward of damage from inclement weather and in the case of the Parkeon machine, the coin slot closes.

During the trial period, the pay stations will accept payment for parking on Mattison Avenue between Bond Street and Emory Street but the machines may be moved to other locations in order to better gauge their efficacy, City Manager Michael Capabianco has said.

Smart card and employee permit card will not be accepted at the trial pay stations.

Depending on the outcome, the governing body may opt to replace the current fleet, installed in 2011. According to the news release they are nearing the end of their usefulness.

In 2016, the parking meters took in over $4.5 million in revenue Manella said.

“We’ve been listening to resident, visitor, and business feedback on the current parking meters since they were installed,” Mayor John Moor said. “And before we chose a new kind of pay station for Asbury Park, we’re going to make sure it suits the needs of Asbury Park. We want to be as informed in this choice as we possibly can be.”

During the trial period, patrons will be asked to fill out a short online survey. Members of the City’s Parking Committee will also evaluate the parking meters customer experience and back-end software platforms, according to the written statement.

The City’s Parking Committee is also launching an evaluation of parking policy recommendations, a new mobile payment app, software management systems, among other improvements.

[Photo courtesy of Javier Gabriel via Facebook and IPS]

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