CITY TO BEGIN ACTIVATING NEW FLEX PARKING PAY STATIONS IN STAGES

CITY TO BEGIN ACTIVATING NEW FLEX PARKING PAY STATIONS IN STAGES

The City of Saskatoon will begin to turn on the new centralized FlexParking pay stations, in stages, starting from 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 19. As the new stations are turned on, the old coin meters will be hooded to direct drivers to the new stations. Until then, drivers should continue to plug the old coin meters.

“This is an exciting time for Saskatoon; this easy to use system will replace the old coin meters in the Downtown and core business districts enabling much more flexibility in payment and parking options,” says Andrew Hildebrandt, Director of Community Standards. “Drivers will be able to use coins, credit cards, the new City Parking Card and, in the near future, cell phones to purchase parking. The new system also allows you to park at various locations throughout the city on a single payment, in accordance with the maximum posted time limit for each space.”

The first FlexParking pay stations to be turned on will be Downtown on the following streets:

•    2nd Avenue between 19th Street and 23rd Street
•    21st Street between 1st Avenue and Spadina Crescent

The remaining stations will be turned on, in stages, in the weeks to come. If the coin meters are covered with a white and yellow hood, you’ll know to pay at the nearest FlexParking pay station. The City will also issue Public Service Announcements and communicate via social media as new areas are activated. In total, 325 pay stations will replace 2,800 coin meters.

The new machines are solar powered and ticketless; you simply enter your licence plate number at the nearest pay station, make your payment and walk away. Since your payment is tied to your licence plate, there is no need to display a ticket on the dash. Receipts are issued as requested.

Once all of the FlexParking pay stations are activated, drivers may move around the city, using their single parking purchase at multiple spots. However, drivers must still obey the posted time limits associated with each parking space. Parking commissionaires will be able to tell how much time your vehicle has sat in each location through the aid of licence plate identification and recognition software.

“There are some areas in the City where parking is free but time restricted. In order to avoid confusion, the city has installed Paid Parking Zone signs to distinguish where payment is required,” says Hildebrandt. “As we transition from the old coin meters to the new pay stations we will have a street team on hand, wearing bright yellow toques, to help drivers and answer questions. They’ll also be handing out keychain attachments that drivers can use to note their licence plate number so they always have it handy.”

For more information, including a map of where the new FlexParking pay stations are installed and frequently asked questions, visit saskatoon.ca/flexparking or call 306-975-2980.
As we transition to the new systems, Saskatoon residents are also invited to check out the demonstration pay station installed in the City Hall lobby or visit Saskatoon City News on Facebook to participate in the City’s FlexParking Question of the Day Contest. New questions are posted daily with the chance to win a pre-loaded parking card with a $50 value.

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