City begins test of upgraded parking meters

CHARLESTON, SC – A 60 day trial of 50 upgraded parking meters that accept major credit cards begins today on Broad Street between King Street and East Bay Street. Customers will be able to pay the meters by Mastercard, Visa or by coin. Smartcards will not be accepted on the upgraded meters during the trial period.

The trial period will allow the city to test the new meters before upgrading all 1,700 parking meters throughout the peninsula over the next three years.

Robert Somerville, interim director of the city’s Department of Traffic and Transportation said, “The upgraded parking meters will make it easier and more convenient for people to pay to park, without having to worry about whether they have enough change on hand. Assuming the trial period goes well, we will begin the process of upgrading all city meters this fall.”