'Smart' parking meters replacing dumb brethren

They take nickels, dimes, quarters and $1 coins — or a prepaid card that works like a debit card. And a digital dial shows exactly how much time is left.

After a yearlong trial, these sleek, black "smart" parking meters will gradually replace all 4,800 of Louisville's old ones.

The city collected about $1.5 million in meter revenue last fiscal year, about $200,000 less than the year before. The city blames much of the drop on meter malfunctions — some of the present meters are 20 years old — and to meters being bagged for nearby construction.

The new ones should increase annual parking revenue by at least 30 percent.

People who don't like to fumble with coins can use a plastic "ParkCard" that will let them use a prepaid sum, up to $50. The cards will go on sale Aug. 31. If there's time left when the driver is ready to leave, he or she can re-insert the card to get credit for the unexpired time.

The city installed about 25 of the new meters around the county courthouse as a test a year ago. The public's response was positive.

The first of about 150 more "smart" meters made by Arkansas-based POM Incorporated have been installed downtown in recent weeks. By June 30, all of the city's meters will be replaced.

The project will cost about $1.4 million, to be covered by $1.4 million PARC received last year from the sale of the old Stewart's parking garage on Third Street.

The city might also sell some of the old meters as memorabilia.