Newport To Replace Aging Parking Meters In Time For Summer Season

NEWPORT, RI — With the start of the parking season just a few weeks away in Newport, the city is replacing parking meters. In the coming weeks, the city will remove parking meters in favor of a pay-by-plate system.

Paid parking will resume in Newport May 1, and the new system will be up and running by that date, the city said.

The current single-space meters have reached the end of their useful life, city officials explained. The shift to pay-by-plate kiosks will bring Newport in line with other cities and will hopefully make it easier for visitors and residents to follow regulations, the city explained. When parking, drivers will enter their license plate information and desired parking time.

The kiosks will connect in real-time with the city, allowing employees to track parking in highly trafficked areas.

Drivers will be able to pay for and manage their parking using the Passport app on their smartphone. The app will show how much time remains and allow easy extensions to parking sessions.