Carol P. Bartold 

Nov. 23, 2016:  On or about December 1, patrons of Bronxville's Garden Avenue parking lot will no longer pay for parking via individual parking meters. 

Village Administrator Jim Palmer reported that two parking kiosks, the same model as those in use in other Westchester communities, will go live to accept parking fees. 

Palmer noted that the kiosks were located strategically in the lot, with one near the stairway to Pondfield Road, so that patrons will not face a long walk to pay for their parking spaces. 

Under the new pay-by-space system, each of the poles that once held parking meters will now be outfitted with a plaque indicating a four-digit space number. At the kiosk, the customer will input the space number and select the amount of parking time desired. 

Methods of payment available are quarters, one-dollar and five-dollar bills; credit and debit cards; and Pango. 

Patrons will not need to return to their cars after paying at the kiosk for their space. They will receive a receipt with a village seal indicating the space number, allotted parking time, and the time that allotment will expire. 

"The Garden Avenue lot was a logical first step for installing kiosks," Palmer said. "We have long-term meters there, including spaces for two-, three-, and four-hour parking, as well as merchant spaces."  

He indicated that the village will install the next kiosks in the public portion of the Villa BXV garage on Kensington Road. That garage is due for opening in January or early February of 2017. 

Palmer stated that each kiosk, purchased from Digital Payment Technology, cost $12,000, with a monthly software fee of $60. "The software allows us to view transactions in real time," Palmer explained, "and to receive emails and texts when the receipt paper is low or if there is a machine malfunction." He added that the village is considering an annual parts and/or labor contract for the kiosks. 

Residents, merchants, and visitors can expect to see changes in parking in 2017 when the Villa BXV garage opens. "The village will be able to restore public parking to several lots that had to absorb merchant and resident commuter parking during construction," Palmer noted. He said that the village will also be able to offer garage spaces to residents whose parking had to be relocated for Villa BXV construction. 

The village also plans to restore street parking on Kensington Road. 

"The dates of these milestones will be subject to and done in conjunction with the progress of construction at the Villa BXV site," Palmer said.

Pictured here:  Parking kiosks getting ready to go live in December. 

Photo by N. Bower