MISSOULA – Several of Missoula’s city parking structures are getting a technological update.
The Central Park and Park Place structures, along with the Caras parking lot, are removing old gating equipment with a more advanced system. This includes a new license plate recognition component and the use of a credit card reader to track time instead of a ticket.
Missoula Parking Commission Director Rod Austin says the changes will provide a greener, more user-friendly and efficient parking experience for Missoula drivers.
“For us, it’s going to replace equipment that is no longer serviced by a corporation, having trouble getting parts and maintenance done," Austin said. "Our lease-holders will have automatic vehicle identification where the system will read the chip that is inside their car and will automatically open the gate for them.”
The new equipment, which is estimated to cost nearly $1 million, is entirely funded by parking revenue.
