NL

Some St. John's parking spots now pay-by-phone only

Cashless parking for 136 spots on Harbour Drive takes effect on June 11.

Cashless parking for 136 meters on Harbour Drive starts June 11

On Harbour Drive in downtown St. John's, 136 spots are now pay-by-phone parking only. (Ted Dillon/CBC)

A section of 136 parking spaces on Harbour Drive in downtown St. John's have moved to cashless parking, now only accepting payment through a smartphone.

The change takes effect June 11.

The one-year pilot project is part of an overhaul to the city's downtown parking system.

The pay-by-app system means no cash goes into the meters, in an attempt to decrease vandalism.

Damaged meters have cost the City of St. John's about $1.4 million. (Jeremy Eaton/CBC)

The City of St. John's said in March that damaged meters have cost about $1.4 million, both in lost revenue and repairs.

Drivers will now have to pay for parking in those Harbour Drive spots by using the pay-by-phone app on their smartphone.

The change is part of the city's 57 long- and short-term recommendations to improve the parking system.

Read more stories from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador