ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) — Pay stations in Ithaca are going away.
Mayor Robert Cantelmo tells 607 News Now the decision by Common Council at the Apr. 8 meeting to phase out those physical meters comes down to costs.
“We looked at our usage data and we looked at the costs around our existing parking infrastructure,” Cantelmo told WHCU’s Joe Salzone on the Apr. 9 edition of 607 This Morning.
“Over 80 percent of folks who park downtown are doing so through the ParkMobile app or corresponding website and very few people are using those pay stations,” the mayor added.
When asked about a backup plan for people who don’t have a smartphone, Mayor Cantelmo says it’s a work in progress.
“I don’t have a full, clear picture from the administration as to what that solution will be yet,” Cantelmo said. “This is the exact type of thing one of our colleagues on Council raised [Wednesday]. You want to make sure confusion and utilization concerns are addressed, and we’re looking forward to providing an error-proof solution for exactly the type of case you brought up.”
In January, Ithaca raised fees to park on streets and in garages. They also eliminated free parking on Saturdays.
FULL INTERVIEW: Ithaca Mayor Robert Cantelmo on 607 This Morning
