The city of Jackson issued the following statement.
The City of Jackson has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the purchase of a new parking meter system which will allow for the implementation of a parking meter pilot program on Capitol Street in downtown Jackson.
The goal of this RFP is to modernize the city’s current parking meter system by using single-spaced smart meters that will allow patrons the option to pay by credit card, coin, or phone. Each meter will communicate by a cloud-based data management system that supports the city’s meter and revenue management goals. The new meters will also be compatible with enforcement support technologies to further improve the efficiency of the city’s limited parking enforcement staff. A purchase made based on this RFP will equip the city to manage its meter program in house without seeking an outside contractor.
“We are excited to launch a more efficient parking system for our citizens and visitors. This venture allows Jackson to move closer to the goal of a modern mobility solution. Moreover, as cities across the nation are facing issues with balancing revenue with the competing needs of constituents, we can no long have inefficient means of collecting the revenue that supports our goals,” said Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba.
Currently, many of the City of Jackson’s parking meters are over 20-years-old and non-functional, resulting in a loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue each year. Recommendations for the successful implementation of a new, modern parking meter system across the city include general goals, policy changes, and a five-year plan to replace or retrofit every meter in the system (1,161 meters). The first step outlined is a 150 Meter Pilot Program on Capitol Street.
Goals for the modernization of the system include:
Create 10-15% on street parking availability (85-90% Occupancy)
Create revenue sufficient for long term meter program sustainability
Create public confidence in effectiveness of the system
Create positive public perception of the system
Create clear communication of policies and expectations
The Capitol Street Pilot Program is essential to the long-term success of the overall plan. An initial estimated investment in the pilot program will yield sufficient revenue after just one year to pay for the second phase of the project and each subsequent phase thereafter. At each phase, additional parking enforcement equipment, parking enforcement personnel, and maintenance personnel are recommended as revenue can support them. At substantial completion, the system should yield between $1,451,250 and $2,176,875 in gross revenue. The system will require approximately $500,000 in annual operating costs at completion, leaving substantial revenue available for future projects, upgrades, and expansions.
This RFP is based on the Draft 2019 City of Jackson On-Street Parking Program Recommendations and Implementation Plan that was prepared by the Department of Planning with the assistance of a work committee from Police, Finance, and Public Works. The draft plan is also being made publicly available alongside the RFP request.
An additional project outline was included in the plan for the Fondren Expansion option, but has slightly different needs due to being a neighborhood center instead of a downtown. It is recommended that the Fondren Expansion not occur until the Capitol Street Pilot Project is completed successfully.
This plan also outlines substantial policy and structure recommendations to allow for long term sustainability of the system which include price structure changes that would increase the minimum rate to $1.00 per hour and explore the use of progressive pricing models. The development of a leadership structure and a dedicated meter revenue fund are also significant policy recommendations. These policy changes are only recommendations at this time and will need to be approved by Council prior to implementation.
The project cost and revenue models included in the plan will be updated once the RFP response period has ended and the city has selected a provider. RFP responses are due May 14, 2019 and will be immediately evaluated upon receipt. A detailed timeline for the Capitol Street Pilot Project will be available after the RFP has been awarded, but work is expected to begin in the fall.
26 comments:
Welcome to Jackson - you may be shot, robbed or mugged. But by golly, we are going to make darn sure we get your parking money or else.
And don't pay attention to that open manhole in the middle of the street. It's as safe as downtown.
They can't fix the water, streets, JPS, zoo, airport, violent crime, but they want new parking meters. Now that is radical.
Do I smell "kickbacks?"
Do y'all have any idea how difficult it is to skim cash from meters that don't work? This is an important step in securing the financial well-being of the folks running the city!
Siemens is the prohibitive favorite, I'm sure, after its stellar job on Jackson's water meter and billing system.
Straight out of the gate with the comments. Back to your basements, all of you!
"you may be shot, robbed or mugged"
The police department is funded by tax dollars and, among other things, fee/fine collections from parking meters.
If anything, overhauling parking meters would be a means to increasing municipal revenue AND in turn increasing law enforcement funding.
Are the parking meters going to cost us $90 million too?
Not long ago the newspaper industry had the companies that build street newspaper racks convert them to coin and credit cards. The next step was mobile pay. We all know now that's not needed as who needs a newspaper.
Some of the more progressive cities have post with signs that take information from your phone and pay-pal type accounts and you are set.
I’ve lived where they use the meters that accept credit cards. They are very convenient and it would seem harder to steal from. But that’s justme
If I’m going to pay temporary rent on a street, the street damn well be navigable. Jackson does not have the money for this. Whenever you hear a project will pay for itself, it’s a lie.
“Each meter will communicate by a cloud-based data management system that supports the city’s meter and revenue management goals.” Wow, they’re going to install a water meter for each parking space!
535, if the street is not navigatible, as you claim, then you will have no need to temporarily rent a part of it to park. Therefore, no problem either way. Keep your sorry as out of the spaces on that non-navigable street. But if you do happen to drive down the neway resurfaced capitol street to where these meters will be placed, then you do owe money for 'renting' that temporary space and you jolly well better pay it.
4:48 PM - that just leaves you open to have your card/wallet/cash taken by force by the local Jackrica thugs. They can just hang out near meters and wait for an easy mark.
Lock and load.
Oxford has had these for years. I suppose Jackson has taken so long to do something in order to make sure the "appropriate people" are in on the deal.
Does any-fucking-thing in this city work as intended? Please! Any thing? Name one!
Kingfish, why don't you run for City Council? And if you don't live in Ashby's or Virgi's wards, move there! Pretty please!!!
It is all about more kick backs; just that simple.
Are the only people who comment on this blog just a bunch of adult baby suburbanites? Seems so.
6:29 - you do realize you have to take all the other streets to get to your perfect capitol street., right? Jackson will screw this up. I have no intention on going downtown if I can help it. I certainly do not want to get my wallet out on the street while there. Do I trust Jackson to get 3rd partyvendors? Why should we? I’m sure the WiFi will be adequately protected from hacking too. How about they let other cities give them their old coin operated units? Once enough revenue has been collected to pay for the state of the art meters, then purchase them at that time. Where do you place state of the art parking meters on Jackson’s pressing needs? At a recent Black Hat convention, the participants were able to hack 9/10 smart meters, most in less than ten minutes. What are the odds Jackson picks the one model that stumped the hackers? Many cities report well over 20% failure rate and have found it too costly to replace those that are vandalized. Another alarming trend was the number of sexual assaults that took place at meters where women became easy targets as they got their wallets out of their purse, cards out of their wallets etc. Other cities reported problems with thieves on bikes grabbing cell phones as they were being used for smart pay. Many cities have reverted to chalk marking and meter maids. Obviously, Jackson will research all these pitfalls and make the exact right decision and the coffers will overflow with parking revenues. Sure it will pay for itself. If you believe that I have some water meter futures to sell you.
8:20. Yes.
@6:29
Do you ever go outside?
Does this mean my old parking meter key will not work anymore?
I count on all of those quarters to buy wheels for my car.
Trolls to the contrary (as always), the city administration is consistently moving in the right direction. Previous administrations left scandalous messes and a legacy of neglect, so there's a big ditch to climb out of. One step at a time, which is the motto of most cities like Jackson that have been stripped of their tax base.
It's easy to find fault about Jackson; I live here; I know. But I like the people. The "Canterbury Tales" would be awfully boring if all the pilgrims were knights or franklins. Sometimes I do wish for more boring neighbors, but it passes. Anyway, trolls shall always be with us. Mencken was famous for his description of "puritans" as being haunted by the fear that someone, somewhere might be happy. The same goes with trolls. So deal with it, trolls, I'm happy in Jackson!
Unlike past administrations, I hope a percentage of the money taken in will be set aside to maintain, repair and replace the new meters as they age.
We seem to be unable to accept that some things we acquire require care and some things have a " shelf life".
The longer we ignore taking care of what we have, the sooner it will fail and the more it will cost to repair or replace.
Jackson was not "stripped of their tax base." It was squandered away.
Why not go to mobile pay like most cities are. Pay with an app on the phone and you can even reserve spots.
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