Pay machine upgrade for Transperth parking

New pay-by-plate parking machines will be progressively installed across Transperth car parks from next week, eliminating the need for passengers to print paper parking tickets.

When paid parking was rolled out on the Transperth network in 2014, the new parking payment system, SmartParker, was deliberately linked to the existing SmartRider system.

Using a SmartRider to pay for parking became simple and convenient for passengers.

While SmartRider is still the most convenient way to pay for parking, and is used by about 80 per cent of passengers, a minority of passengers still choose to purchase a cash ticket.

Thanks to this latest innovation, the new pay-by-plate machines, motorists paying with cash will be able to enter their number plate using the machine’s keypad, pay their parking fee, and proceed straight to their train or bus.

Like SmartParker, numberplate information will be stored digitally, which eliminates the need for passengers to return to their vehicle and display the printed ticket.

SmartParker users will be able to use both the existing machines and the new system with pay-by-plate technology.

Roll out of the new machines is expected to take several months.

The new machines will be rolled out at all stations except Claremont, Seaforth and Swanbourne, while payments at Fremantle and Murdoch will remain via SmartRider only.

Public Transport Authority spokesman David Hynes said the upgrade addressed a common complaint from passengers who pay with cash.

“Since the SmartParker roll out in 2014, some pay-and-display customers have complained about how far they walk to get from their car to the machine and back again,” Mr Hynes said.

“Now, the 20 per cent of passengers who use pay-and-display in an average week can park their cars, motorbikes or scooters, type their plate number in to the machine, and then head straight to the station without having to display a ticket on their dashboard.

“Parking attendants will use license plate recognition software to check if parking has been paid for, just like with the SmartParker system.

“We have been trialling the system at the East Perth Station car park since late September and it has been well received overall.”

Installation will be carried out on a rolling basis and is expected to take about six weeks.

The upgrade will cost an estimated $1,473,000. It will have no impact on the SmartParker machines.

Visit www.transperth.wa.gov.au or call the InfoLine on 13 62 13 for more information.

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