Credit Card Parking Meters Debut On Norfolk

Parking meters that take credit cards?

It's long been a dream for quarter-weary Bethesdans, but now, it looks like dreams do come true.

Forty-one meters that take payment via coins, and yes, credit cards were installed today along Norfolk Avenue as part of a county pilot project, according to Ken Hartman, director of the

The "smart" meters accept VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Discovery cards and are located on Norfolk between St. Elmo and Delray avenues. They don't accept cash keys, however.

The goal is to make paying for parking a bit easier, Hartman said. It's not the first time the county has aimed to provide parkers with payment options other than spare change -- a was expanded throughout downtown Bethesda last year after a successful pilot program at the Bethesda-Elm garage.

The smart meter project will be piloted for three to four months and then the meters will be removed as the county assesses the success of the program, according to Hartman.

If successful, the county will install the smart meters incrementally throughout Bethesda.

More information and a survey will be available soon at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/parking.

Will smart meters make it easier to park in Bethesda? Tell us in the comments.