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General Questions

Can I use coins on the smart meters if I prefer?

Yes, smart meters accept coins.

Smart meters default to an hour.  Can I pay for less time?

Yes.  The default setting is one hour, but you can increase or decrease the amount of time by pushing the “+ Time” or “- Time” buttons.

Is handicapped parking free?

Yes, if you have a handicapped license or placard you can park for up to one day in a metered spot or municipal garage at no charge. After one day, you will be charged the normal rate. 

Is my credit card secure when I use it in a smart meter?

Yes. The company providing the meters, IPS, receives annual certification from a third party Qualified Security Assessor (QSAs) as recognized by the PCI Security Council for both Level 1 Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) and Payment Application Data Security Standard (PA-DSS). Additionally, IPS undergoes quarterly external security scanning by an Approved Scanning Vendor (ASV). IPS’s payment gateway and software meets the terms of the Visa Cardholder Information Security Program (CISP) and the MasterCard Site Data Protection (SDP) programs.

What are the parking meter rates and enforcement times?

The parking meter rates are $1.50 an hour in the downtown core Monday-Saturday and free on Sundays and holidays, enforcement times run 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.


Parkmobile

Where can I download the Parkmobile app?

Android users can download the app via the Google Play store here and iPhone users can download via the iTunes store here.

How does the Parkmobile app work?

Once you sign up and register, it’s as easy as picking the Parkmobile zone you’re parking in and paying for your meter usage via Parkmobile’s many payment types. There’s detailed information on the Parkmobile website here

Please note: standard VT license plates do not utilize the letter, “O”, please be sure to use the number zero when registering your vehicle. 

I received a ticket after correctly using Parkmobile for my meter, what can I do?

The City of Burlington has passed a policy allowing the Burlington Police Department to review and, in specific situations, void tickets without requiring you to appeal tickets to the City’s attorney. These situations include tickets that were generated during a known time-lag that can last up to three minutes between paying for your meter via Parkmobile and the enforcement system recognizing your payment. The other situation would be anytime where there is no discrepancy between the ticket and payment receipt (i.e. the license plate number of the ticketed vehicle and the license plate number on the payment receipt are the same). BPD can be reached directly at (802) 540-2185 to review your ticket in these situations.

Where can I find more information on Parkmobile?

Visit https://us.parkmobile.com/ for more info and visit their FAQ page for questions and answers.


Downtown Parking and Transportation Management Plan

Why is the City of Burlington implementing a new parking initiative now?

The City Council passed a resolution in November 2013 that formally launched the Downtown Parking Improvement Initiative. The reason for initiating this project was two-fold:

  • The City and local business assistance providers have received feedback from business owners, tourists, and residents alike that the parking system is not working well.  Many people have expressed the opinion that it is difficult to find parking in the heart of downtown, signage to direct people to parking resources is inadequate, technology is outdated, and parking garages need enhanced security.
  • In order to maintain the City’s parking assets and make the improvements that people would like to see, our parking system needs to be managed in a more sustainable way.

How many smart meters does Burlington have and where are they?

285 smart meters were installed in the “downtown core,” which is bounded by Cherry Street on the north, Main Street to the south, Pine Street to the west, and South Winooski Avenue to the east. The older meters remain in place everywhere else in the city.