Starting Wednesday you can use your credit or debit card to pay to park in downtown Wichita.
In a release, city officials said the three-month test project will make it even easier to park in the downtown area.
People who park in the metered lot east of Century II Expo Hall or south of the Central Library will be directed to centralized parking pay stations near the north entrances. The meters in those areas will be out-of-service.
The price to park will remain the same, but drivers can pay with change, credit or debit card.
"We are happy to give visitors who enjoy our many activities downtown the convenience of paying for parking by debit or credit card," said John D'Angelo, Manager, Arts and Cultural Services Division.
D'Angelo said the system will also benefit the city of Wichita by lowering maintenance costs by going from 344 individual meters to four centralized pay stations.
Here's how the pay stations work:
- As you leave your vehicle, make note of your space number.
- Go to any of the centralized pay stations
- Use the screen to select the amount of time you wish to pay for
- Enter your space number and payment
- Take your receipt. (You do not have to display or show the receipt.)
At the end of the three-month trial period Wichita officials will review the project to determine if it should be kept long-term and expanded.
The cost of the test project was $15,315.