Metric Parking Division completes Phase 1 of Madison Wisconsin’s conversion to Aura Multi-Space Meters

Mount Laurel, NJ, January 12, 2011 – Metric Parking which has been producing machines for the parking industry for over 30 years has just completed phase 1 of Madison’s 3 phase plan to replace single space meters in their central business district (CBD). The new Aura pay by space multi-space meters will replace 800 of the nearly 1,600 single space meters currently being used in the CBD. Phase 1 comprises of 15 Aura Pay by Space meters that accepts coins and credit/debit cards as forms of payment. The 2nd phase will be 70 meters and the 3rd 15. The city has used this phased in approach to help their users get accustomed to the new type of paid parking and to ensure the success of the concept. The city wants to provide convenience to their customers by offering multiple forms of payment and not worrying about having enough or correct change to pay for parking. All the Aura meters are being remotely monitored by the city using Metric’s WebASLAN system. This back office system that is owned and operated by the city allows the city to remotely view the status of each machine and provide enforcement data via handheld units.

Dave Witts, President of Metric Group Inc. says, “The City of Madison has really taken all the steps to ensure that the product and service they have meets their needs and their customers’ needs. Metric worked closely with the city during this 1st phase to change some of the messages displayed and operation of the machines to better fit the users in Madison. It has been clear to us at Metric that the City of Madison is concerned about their users and their acceptance of this technology as the new phase of parking payment for the city.”

Bill Knobeloch, Parking Operations Manager of Madison says, “The meters have been well received with over 50,000 transactions, and over half of them credit card.  It demonstrates a high customer demand for credit card payments.  Parking enforcement officers notice an increased compliance rate in multi-space areas perhaps as a result of alternative forms of payment.”

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