SACRAMENTO-
New, high-tech parking meters have been replaced around downtown and midtown Sacramento since early February. While many of its features are convenient, some are finding the height too tall.
Earlier, Sacramento City Council approved a $6 million, 4000 new meter replacement program. Since its first installation in February, the City’s Parking, Technology and Infrastructure department has replaced around 300 of them.
“It has the ability to take all types of coins, not just quarters,” Mike King of the City of Sacramento Parking, Technology and Infrastructure department said. “It also takes credit and debit cards, so we’ve improved customer service. Plus, we currently have three people whose only jobs are to fix old meters. These new ones will last up to ten years.”
Within the next few months, the new meters will also be connected to an app, where parkers can access their specific meter remotely to input additional money. However, not everyone is thrilled about the so called “improvements.”
5’3’’ tall Georgia Hollinger said she has a lot of trouble seeing the screen of the new meters. Not only are they taller where she parks on the corner of J Street and 29th, the screens tilt upward, giving it a glare.
“I can’t reach them,” Hollinger said. “I can’t see it. They must have been made by six feet tall people. You have to put your money in and then make shade with your hand, and stand on your toes to see what’s going in there.”
FOX40 measured several old and new meters to see how tall they were. From the ground to each screen, some old ones varied from 47-53 inches. Those screens are perpendicular to the ground. New meters on the other hand measured 53-57 inches tall. As noted previously, those screens tilt upward, making it harder to see from a lower angle.
Some wondered if the new meters were compliant with the American Disabilities Act. King replied, while there is no set height requirement, the new meters have clearer visibility for those who are visually impaired, and have the ability to change heights, which make them ADA compliant.
“No organization has established a standard for parking meter heights; different cities have done their own thing,” King said.
The new meter poles are not hard wired inside, so it is possible to cut them shorter.
“In terms of height adjustment, we can’t really do much about going up, if we do need to shorten them, we can look into that” King said.
This program is still in the City’s testing phase The city will be accepting comments here for the next few weeks for those who have concerns, suggestions, and questions regarding the new meters. After reading the comments, King said they will adjust accordingly.
