New parking meters reducing congestion increasing business in commercial areas

A total of 730 parking meters have been erected throughout Beirut, as part of the Urban Transportation Development Project, sponsored by the Lebanese government and World Bank.

Beirut residents will recognize the rectangular, silvery, high-tech looking machines adorning streets such as Hamra, Verdun, Bliss, Corniche al-Mazraa, and other areas both commercial and residential. Originally, only 100 meters were added to specific areas as part of a pilot test program and due to positive response, the project was able to be fully implemented allowing for all 730 intended meters to be installed.

Elie Helou, the engineer responsible for the project, stated that “there is very good public response and acceptance,” noting that there has not been a single vandalism incident.

Each solar-powered, computerized parking meter controls 12 parking spaces and accept coins, cash, debit cards, and credit cards, technology that is rare to find even in most American cities. Motorists receive a printed parking slip from each meter that is placed on the dashboard of the vehicle to designate that they have properly paid for the space in the designated time.

The main purpose for these meters is to shorten the length of time that motorists can park in designated areas for, creating greater availability of parking spaces in streets where it was impossible for short-stay visitors to find one, explains Helou. He adds that this has a positive impact on businesses since consumers can park easily, finish their shopping, and continue home. In the past, cars parked for long amounts of time made it difficult for visitors to find parking.

“We see drivers abusing parking spaces when they go to work for 5 hours but leave their cars in the same spot for 12 hours” says a ministry of interior representative. With parking meters, drivers are forced to limit their time in a specific space so that other drivers can use the same space. Aside from creating more availability of parking spaces, this also lessens the number of cars parked on a road, reducing traffic congestion.

Though overall, the project has been met with positive response, MP Mohammad Qabbani says that there has been some negative backlash in residential areas. “People are complaining that they have to pay to park their cars in front of their homes” explained the MP. He explains that this has been an issue on Bliss Street specifically. On streets like Bliss, that are both commercial and residential there seems to be a tension because residents may not want to pay for parking where they live but business calls for an improved parking situation.

But Helou explains that the flexibility of the parking meters allows for such concerns to be addressed explaining that parking meters’ operating times are adjusted based on residents’ commuting hours so that “densely residential areas have operating hours that are shorter than business areas” allowing more time for residents to park free of charge, making these concerns minimal in comparison to the overall positive response.

If further expansion of parking meters were to occur, Helou believes that it may include areas such as Jdeideh, Bourj Hammoud, and Jal al-Dib. These of course are largely residential municipalities and expansion to these areas will only occur upon the request of the municipality and will not be under World Bank Funding but will require local financing.

- Daily Star