Tacoma City Council approved a purchase resolution Tuesday that authorizes the execution of a $4.185 million agreement between the City and Affiliated Computer Services (ACS), Inc. to begin the process of installing electronic pay stations in the central business district.

The contract will be paid through limited tax general obligation bonds and the city’s pay station fund. City officials say the pay stations will “improve the turnover of downtown on-street spaces making it easier for customers and visitors to conveniently find on-street parking to shop, dine and participate in other activities.”

The action this week kicks off the first phase of a three-phase process to install electronic pay stations to cover 150 parking spots from South Seventh Street, Market Street, South 21st Street, and Dock Street. The first pay stations will be installed in August near the University of Washington Tacoma. Remaining pay stations will be installed in two phases later this summer.

Last year, City Council authorized the implementation of a paid on-street parking program. A 12-member advisory task force was created to come up with a plan for collecting feedback from downtown stakeholders, communicating those comments back to City Hall, and rolling out the plan.

On April 14, Kurtis Kingsolver, engineering division manager for the city’s public works department, updated City Council’s environment and public works committee on the process. According to Kingsolver, drivers will pay for one- to two-hour parking between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. in the designated area Monday through Saturday. The fee will begin at 75 cents per hour, but will likely be adjusted as a target market rate is reached.

For more information, visit http://www.tacomaparking.com .

EDITOR’S NOTE: Earlier Index coverage inaccurately reported 1,500 pay stations would be installed. We regret the error.

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For earlier Tacoma Daily Index coverage of this issue, click on the following links:

City to review downtown parking meter contract — http://tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1770965&more=0

Downtown drivers closer to paying for parking — http://tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1756822&more=0

City Council considers consultant for downtown parking program — http://tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1286912&more=0

Public parking strategy meetings will help shape the future of downtown parking — http://tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1198762&more=0

City Council committee gets early glimpse of downtown parking recommendations — http://tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1143142&more=0