Automated parking meters at commuter terminal

The Commonwealth Ports Authority Board of Directors has approved the awarding of the contract for the procurement of parking meter that will be installed at the Saipan Commuter Terminal to JJ Mackay, Canada Limited.

Under the proposed agreement with CPA, JJ Mackay will provide the parking meter for less than $30,000 depending on whether the equipment will be shipped to the CNMI by either sea or air.

CPA will be tasked to install the meters at the Saipan Commuter Terminal but Executive Director Carlos H. Salas told board members in a recent meeting that JJ Mackay will hold installation training for ports authority personnel.

The company submitted the lowest bid for the meters at $25,085 if the equipment would be sea-transported to Saipan for a minimum of 50 days or $28,085 if it will be shipped through air which is expected to arrive on the island faster at 3-5 days.

JJ Mackay’s proposal include software required for operating meters and generating reports, audits, maintenance and trouble shooting manuals, hand-held computer programming and communication of meters.

The company would also provide a one-week on site training for installation, maintenance and trouble-shooting of the parking meters.

Other than JJ Mackay, four other companies — EJ Construction, YCO Corporation, Sablan Enterprises and Dahl Systems Marketing — submitted bids for the parking meter which will be installed at the Saipan Commuter Terminal as part of CPA’s efforts to increase its non-aviation revenues.

Imposition of charges at the airport’s public parking area was decided to increase current level of CPA revenues while repressing adverse effects on the airline industry by delaying the implementation of new aviation rate schedule.

In order to address concerns that may be raised by those who frequently travel between the CNMI islands, CPA is planning to institute a measure that would grant unlimited parking access at the area on a fixed annual fee.

Under the proposed program, residents who commute to and from Saipan on a frequent basis may obtain a Frequent Traveler Public Parking Permit from the CPA for an annual fee of about $400.

The permit, which shall allow for unlimited parking, will have to be prominently displayed inside the vehicle dashboard while parked and should be presented to the parking attendant when exiting.

CPA started charging car owners who would use the public parking area at the Saipan International Airport a dollar per hour as part of the agency’s efforts to increase revenues last July 1, 1999.

The decision was made during the ports authority’s board meeting in February last year where all other fees charged by CPA will be raised on different effective dates.

The ports authority would be charging $10 for a 24-hour use of the parking area per car, while holders of lost tickets will be charged $10. CPA has designated only one entry and exit points for the airport parking area to facilitate registration.

The ports authority is expecting to generate at least $80,000 in additional annual revenues from the collection of parking fee.