The meter’s running on old-school timers

Delray’s new system could include surge pricing

Delray Beach tonight will discuss plans to add “smart meters” to serve more than 3,000 parking spaces downtown. It’ll end free parking at many locations and may introduce surge pricing, where parking rates rise during periods of high demand to promote turnover.

Over the past decade, cities all across South Florida have been replacing old coin-operated timers with the devices.

Boca Raton, Pompano Beach, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea and Miami Beach all use large “smart” pay stations that accept credit cards and cash, in addition to coins.

Because all transactions are saved electronically by cities, drivers don’t have to worry about walking back to their cars to place a receipt on their dashboards. The cities can tell whether drivers have paid, based on license tag information.

“Transactions are done faster with these meters,” said Jorge Alarcon, Delray Beach’s chief parking facilities administrator. “Before, meters were taking almost three minutes to do one transaction. Now, we’re getting them in under 30 seconds.”

Hollywood and Surfside, among other cities, keep a variety of smart meters, including ones individually assigned to parking spots that can accept credit-card payments by cellphone.

Alexander Proscurshim, 31, of Boca Raton, said he uses parking apps while in Fort Lauderdale and Miami. But when it comes down to choosing between smart meter pay stations and coin-only meters, he favors the smart pay stations, he said.

“The pay station is easier,” Proscurshim said. “I don’t carry coins unless I have them in my truck, but outside of that, I haven’t pulled out coins in a very long time.”

Under Delray’s smart meter plan, free

MARIA LORENZINO/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER The city thinks smart meters will give more people a chance to park downtown.