Boston Begins Upgrade To Solar-Powered Parking Meters

November 4, 2008 9:21 a.m. EST

Boston, MA (AHN) - High-tech parking solar-powered parking meters are now being used in parts of Boston, particularly along Newbury Street from Exeter Street to Massachusetts Avenue.

The Boston Transportation Department paid $100,000 each for the 63 new parking meters capable of accepting coins, notes and credit cards and which covers eight parking slots. Of the 63, 32 have already been installed. Aside from Newbury Street, the new meters are also found along Hereford, Gloucester and Fairfield Streets from Newbury to Boylston Streets.

Another 27 will be put in place within the same vicinity in the coming weeks, while the last four will be installed at a later date because of ongoing construction at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority area.

This month, Boston's 13-year old parking meters will also be replaced with 9,500 new ones.

According to a National Parking Association survey released in September, Boston has the second highest parking cost in the U.S. with an average monthly parking rate of $436.75. The highest rate belongs to New York, which has an average rate of $478.75.