Ann Arbor DDA to roll out innovative parking system downtown on June 15th.
New e-park system designed to make parking in downtown Ann Arbor easier, more convenient and energy efficient.
ANN ARBOR, MI – June 8, 2009 – The Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is using everything under the sun to make parking downtown more convenient … including sunlight.
The new eco-friendly parking system – christened e-park – will roll out June 15th and feature solar powered stations. The system will let you pay for parking from any parking station, or, even easier, by cell phone by dialing 1-888-450-park (7275).
Over The next few years, parking meters will be replaced with multispace e-park stations. This rollout begins with 25 conveniently located stations placed in the Main and State Street areas.
“Imagine you’re shopping downtown and you want to pay to park, says Susan Pollay, DDA Executive Director, “You won’t have to check the cushions for loose change. You’ll be able to pay at any station using a credit card or simply dial a number and pay by phone.”
Ann Arbor is on the vanguard of American cities replacing conventional coin-operated meters with systems featuring new technology. Charleston, South Carolina, New York City and San Francisco have introduced similar systems over the past few years.
“We chose a system that is very user friendly”, adds Pollay. “Simply enter your parking space system, the amount of time you need, and pay for it. It’s that easy.”
The e-park stations – which also take coins – accept debit or credit cards and generate a receipt complete with date, time, and location of parking.
ABOUT THE ANN ARBOR DDA
Since 1982, the Ann Arbor DDA has been a catalyst for the revitalization and renewal of downtown Ann Arbor. Funded by parking revenues and taxes generated by new building construction, the DDA operates all public parking system downtown including on-street meters.
Alternative transportation programs that support the downtown are also funded by the DDA including the go!pass, the Link, bike lockers, and the getDowntown program.
While promoting economic revitalization and encouraging historic preservation, the DDA has participated in more than 100 projects, with approximately $60 million reinvested in downtown.
