New parking meters in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - While it’s a welcomed addition for businesses in Springfield, the free ride is over if you’re parking downtown. The Springfield Parking Authority has installed over two dozen new state-of-the art parking meters and painted new lines for parking spaces on Main Street.

Seventy percent of the time, people were parking illegally and businesses were fed up. So the city has set new parking restrictions and regulations, adding two hour paid parking by quarter or pre-paid card.

“It’s more for businesses in the area. The prime objective for the program is turnover. The businesses along Main street have come to us saying we need better enforcement we need better equipment, we need turnover,” said Hal King of the Springfield Parking Authority.

The city built the new $20,000 dollar meters into the budget. The expectation is for the city to make the money back in a year and even bring in additional revenue with the new system.