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by: 19 10k+ OP
~ 8 mos ago Jul 31, '25 1:32pm

Free Downtown Parking!

"July 31, 2025 (PEORIA, IL) The City of Peoria is upgrading its parking system, introducing new smart meter heads and transitioning all meters to a new payment platform operated by IPS Group. Installation of approximately 300 new meter heads will begin the week of August 4 in the downtown area.

"While only a portion of meter heads will be replaced with smart meter heads, all parking meters citywide will switch from the current Passport platform to the new IPS system.

"The new parking payment system will offer several convenient options:

* Coins
* Credit/debit cards, using text to pay
* New smart meters will have a credit card slot for an additional payment option
Contactless payments, including Apple Pay and Google Pay, using text to pay

"Those using text to pay will receive a 10-minute expiration reminder and the option to extend time, when available. No app will be necessary with the new payment system.

To support a smooth transition, payment collection will be waived at metered spaces from August 4 through August 11.

"The city appreciates the public's patience during the installation process and looks forward to delivering a more reliable, and user-friendly parking experience."

Contact: Stacy Peterson, Strategic Communications Manager
Phone: 309-494-8560
Email: [email protected]

billybob reacted

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Replies:

18 10k+
~ 8 mos ago Jul 31, '25 1:47pm

Makes me even more glad that I seldom go downtown!

mypeez and PeoriaIllinoisan reacted

14 10k+
~ 8 mos ago Jul 31, '25 2:34pm

*Edited

Gee, I've been very concerned about parking meters for some time.

3 1k+
~ 8 mos ago Jul 31, '25 2:37pm

*Edited

How often are card skimmers installed in parking meters?

18 10k+
~ 8 mos ago Jul 31, '25 2:57pm

I will just use, then replace, my Aldi quarter. No way am I using a card at a parking meter. That is if I even park down town.

kraziebill reacted

14 10k+
~ 8 mos ago Jul 31, '25 3:53pm

*Edited

How often are card skimmers installed in parking meters?

@NoTime :

Apparently, there is something in the design that makes it incredibly challenging to put a skimmer in it. Don't know the details of it. Not to say it cannot be done. But it does happen. But far, far less than other places, mainly in convenience and liquor stores.

NoTime reacted

14 10k+
~ 8 mos ago Jul 31, '25 3:53pm

@kraziebill :
I don't think they did, but no enforcement will be done that week. The assistant city manager we interviewed today didn't say anything about the parking enforcement officers.

I also thought the meters at the Peoria Public Library was included in the upgrades. They're not, just street meters apparently. And that's after I got shots of them besides meters on Adams and in front of city hall, lol.

19 10k+ OP
~ 8 mos ago Jul 31, '25 5:03pm

Makes me even more glad that I seldom go downtown!

@RambleOn : Unless you're in trouble, there's not much to go downtown for anyway. I suspect that will change in time with the new configuration, as continues to happen in the warehouse district.

18 10k+
~ 8 mos ago Jul 31, '25 6:09pm

@PeoriaIllinoisan : Food, alcohol, boutiques, $$$$$ Not much to draw us old folks who seldom eat out, don't drink alcohol and am past the boutique stage of life! Not much to draw me down there other than to pay something at one of the court houses.

19 10k+ OP
~ 8 mos ago Jul 31, '25 8:33pm

@RambleOn : That's how I feel about the Heights.

18 10k+
~ 8 mos ago Aug 1, '25 7:04am

@PeoriaIllinoisan : I go as far as Save-A-Lot, the bank for food pantry deposits and an occasional stop at Helping Hands Resale Shoppe.

1 500+ App
~ 8 mos ago Aug 1, '25 5:18pm

Here in Dallas, they use the ParkMobile app for metered parking and it makes it pretty easy. You just select the time through the app and the app displays the remaining time on your lock screen. You can also add more time without having to go back to the meter. I'm guessing the text feature of these new smart meters will allow for adding additional time. The minimum time we can do in Dallas is 15 minutes and that costs 60 cents.

DennisinPeoria reacted

100+
~ 8 mos ago Aug 2, '25 6:12am

I would love to know the cost/benefit of free street parking downtown.

14 10k+
~ 8 mos ago Aug 2, '25 7:13am

*Edited

I would love to know the cost/benefit of free street parking downtown.

@drifter182 :

At various times, the city's hierarchy has been made aware of a number of urban areas and large suburbs that either took away free parking and things went downhill or added free parking and things took off. The were power point presentations and before that slides presentations. Some people thought that free parking idea was a drastic step. Well, drastic times require drastic solutions. One particular place that had very sudden and drastic fallout by eliminating free parking is Reston Town Center . So drastic they reinstated free parking. That was profiled in a number of related business journals etc. to which the city subscribes. They absolutely are aware of the pros and cons of paid downtown parking. Just Google Reston Town Center parking.

PeoriaIllinoisan reacted

19 10k+ OP
~ 8 mos ago Aug 4, '25 9:26pm

DennisinPeoria reacted

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