SASKATOON – The days of digging for change when parking downtown will soon be over. The City of Saskatoon has started installing new FlexParking pay stations in the downtown and core business districts.
However, the solar-powered stations will not be operational until early next year. Saskatoon’s 2,800 coin meters are to be used until they’ve been bagged.
MORE: Saskatoon replacing parking meters with pay stations
The first FlexParking station was installed Wednesday and the remaining 325 pay stations will be installed throughout the month. Each block will have between one and three pay stations.
Get breaking National news
Motorists can pay with either a debit or credit card and the option to pay with change will still exist. There is no need to display receipts in vehicles.
Parking commissioners will be able to tell how much time a vehicle has been parked with licence plate identification and recognition software. New city parking cards are also an option and a mobile app will launch in 2015.
“Essentially you enter your plate number, pay and walk away so it’s three easy steps,” said Angela Gardiner, the city’s transportation director.
“As well, there’s also flexibility in moving around, so you can pay in one spot, move around to other metered areas throughout the city without having to repay.”
New stations will be used downtown, on Broadway, in Riversdale and will be expanding into the Sutherland business district. Meters at River Landing will be replaced in the summer.
Wendy Winiewski contributed to this story
Comments