SILVER SPRING, Md. — Montgomery County is giving drivers more parking payment options by expanding its use of “smart” meters.
Starting next week, more than 1,100 traditional parking meters in Silver Spring will be replaced with smart meter technology, which allows drivers to pay by sliding a credit card directly into the meter.
“You don’t have to worry about having any coins to pay for parking,” says Esther Bowring, with the Montgomery County Department of Transportation.
The Silver Spring project is expected to take about two weeks. It comes after the county added smart meters in Bethesda.
“We’re very interested in innovating with new technology to make things easier and more convenient,” Bowring says.
The meters accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover cards in addition to coins. Drivers can use cellphones to pay as well.
Montgomery County transportation officials plan to add more smart meters along streets in other communities, including Wheaton and Montgomery Hills.
