WB metered parking to begin with new technology

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC (WWAY) — It’s that time again — metered parking at Wrightsville Beach. The town will start enforcing their hourly $2.50 rate to everyone, including frequent beach goers like Cameron Husain.

“Heyyy! They didn’t raise the price. That’s nice,” Husain said.

The payments start Sunday, March 1.

“It’s still considered the off season to us people that live here, so it’s a bit ridiculous,” Husain said.

While Husain says it is an inconvenient time, the town’s new technology will make paying more convenient. Town Manager Tim Owens says they are replacing the coin meters with credit card machines. The one hour meters downtown are the first to go. Owens says they will also be replacing three of their old pay stations and replacing the coin meters as the funds become available.

“That’s great,” Husain said. “Having to scrounge up quarters is kind of annoying, and a lot of the time the credit card machines don’t work so you get tickets that aren’t even your fault.”

That is why the new credit card meters will have better software with jam alerts. But while the town works on replacing the $200,000 dollars worth of meters, Husain just wants a new rate system.

“Me and all my friends, we don’t like paying for all of the heavy prices,” Husain said. “We’d like it to come down. Maybe have a year membership or something.”

In the meantime, WWAY StormTrack 3 meteorologists predict a sunny, almost 60-degree start to the metered season.