High-tech parking pay stations coming to Key West

BY PRU SOWERS

KONK LIFE STAFF WRITER

Technology geeks who park frequently in Old Town are going to be very happy pretty soon.

The city has agreed to spend just over $106,000 on 15 new parking pay stations that will have a variety of high-tech features aimed at making it easier and more convenient to park in several city-owned lots in the Old Town area. The good news is that the cost, $3 an hour, will remain the same. The bad news is that pay stations are being added in areas where parking is currently free, including the 100 block of Simonton Street, the Greene Street gravel lot and the new Truman Waterfront Park.

Key West Parking Director John Wilkins said the city had planned on replacing all 75 of its pay stations – eight-year-old machines corroded by wind and salt air – but recovery costs associated with Hurricane Irma pushed that back. Deciding that 15 of the current machines were in dire need of replacement, the city was able to piggy back on a competitive bid for the Cale American CWT Pay Stations originally made to the city of Treasure Island.

The new machines will have a variety of new features that will allow drivers to pay for parking by phone, are credit card “chip” compliant, will accept touchless RFI credit cards and will allow residents to receive four hours of free parking each day in one of three designated lots at the fire station on Simonton Street, the main public lot at the Key West Bight, and the park and ride lot on Caroline Street. The four-hour free parking benefit will also be available at the Truman Waterfront Park once the machines are installed.

“With the new equipment, you’ll be able to enter your four-digit [residential parking] permit and get your four [free] hours and even buy more. Maybe you’re going out on your boat for the day. You could buy additional time to cover that,” Wilkins said.

The feature Wilkins is most excited about it the pay by phone option. Drivers will download the app on their smart phones, link to a bank or PayPal account and purchase time remotely on the phone. When that time is about to expire, the driver receives a text notifying them how much time is left and they can add more over their phone.

“Hopefully, we’ll do that citywide eventually,” Wilkins said. “But right now, we’re just rolling it out in these locations with the new equipment.”

The parking lot next to the Conch Republic Seafood restaurant will also receive a new pay station. The new machines will have light bar on top to help drivers see better when they are punching the buttons at night.

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