NEWS INFORMATION FROM

THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED
City of Harrisburg
King City Government Center
Harrisburg, PA 17101-1678
Telephone: 255.3040

FOR IMMEDIATE USE
15 October 2002

NEW MULTI-SPACE PARKING METERS TO UNDERGO TRIAL RUN IN CITY; ON-STREET PARKING FROM MARKET TO LOCUST TO BE FIRST AREA IN MIDSTATE TO RECEIVE NEW, HIGH-TECH UNITS

Harrisburg, PA—Several dozen parking spaces in downtown Harrisburg will be the first in the midstate to be controlled by new, high-tech, multi-space meters, Mayor Stephen R. Reed today announced. The experimental project involves the installation of new meters that will reduce operating, maintenance and administration costs, while increasing unit efficiency and worker productivity.

Reed said the new parking system, known as the Hawk 2000 MultiPark System is manufactured by Duncan Industries and costs approximately $3,200 per unit. The innovative system consists of a single port or small tower that controls as many as 8 separate parking spaces. Parkers select the space desired and insert the proper amount of change for the time desired. Simple instructions on the port guide the user through the payment process.

The Mayor said the introduction of the new system means that the existing parking meters along N. Second Street between Market and Locust Streets will be the first to be replaced with the new multi-space technology. 39 existing metered parking spaces will be integrated into the new system once the multi-ports are installed, which should occur before the end of November.

Reed said: “The new multi-space parking system will provide a number of benefits, prime amongst them being the removal of the existing and unsightly proliferation of individual meters that line both sides of the street. The units are cheaper to maintain than the existing individual meters, more cost-effective to administer, and also help to reduce costs.

Reed said an upcoming Downtown Streetscape Improvement Project will eliminate much of the signage and other posted items along streets that have accumulated over decades, and reduce the number of meters by using a multi-space meter helps in this effort.

The Mayor said the new units contain a Liquid Crystal Display window that provides basic operating instructions, is backlighted for easier usage at night and dusk, and also provides specialized informational capabilities, such as being out-of-order, reserved or open for free parking.

Reed said the new system will undergo a trial run period for at least six months to determine their efficiency and durability, after which the new multi-space ports will be installed citywide if the trial run is successful.

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