Villaraigosa Wants All Parking Meters to be Credit Card Friendly

Photo by Andrew Stawarz via Flickr

Photo by Andrew Stawarz via Flickr
Parking blows when four quarters only yields a meager 15 minutes in some parts of Los Angeles (ahem, next to the Flower Market). That's why Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa wants to replace all 40,000 meters in the city to accept plastic, finds Rick Orlov of the Daily News. And it looks like the idea of going Chicago's route--you know, leasing all city parking meters to a private company like Morgan Stanley--is off the table as Villaraigosa wants to borrow money for the replacement project.

"Not many people are walking around with 32 quarters for a couple hours of parking time," noted Deputy Mayor Matt Szabo.

But what's likely to become a reality is the leasing of parking garages to private operators. The city has received 15 bids and an announcement is apparently expected soon. Estimates earlier this year had the city earning $100 to $200 million from the deal.

Previously on LAist
- Privatizing the City's Public Parking Garages Could be Risky
- Hollywood & Highland, ArcLight & Other Public Parking Lots Could Soon be Run by Private Entities
- City Panel Recommends Moving Forward with Privatization of 10 City Parking Garages
- Parking Operators Owe the City Nearly $100 Million