A ticketless parking system that was trialled by the City of Hamilton has been expanded to a second car park after feedback from users was generally positive.

The new platform that uses licence-plate recognition was rolled out earlier on Front Street and has since been introduced at the Par-la-Ville car park.

Its features include contactless access control and mobile app payments.

The system, which was launched at the No 5 Car Park on Front Street in January, allows drivers to enter, park and pay via their phone without handling paper tickets or coins.

The project was among several contracts agreed by the City last year, which were published in the Official Gazette in line with public access to information legislation.

Par-la-Ville car park became the latest to have the contactless payment system a month ago. A City spokeswoman said the platform is being monitored closely.

The next locations under consideration include the City Hall and No 1 car parks.

The spokeswoman said: “We remain committed to gradual enhancements and a user-first approach to parking in the City of Hamilton.

“Our dedicated support teams are available to assist anyone needing help navigating the system.

“The licence-plate recognition initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to modernising city infrastructure, improving the user experience and preparing Hamilton for scalable smart city solutions in the future.”

The system is powered by local payment gateway Powertranz and technology firm Mobile Smart City Pango, which was awarded a $64,659.25 contract for the project.

During its trial at the Front Street car park, user feedback was collected and assessed.

The city spokeswoman said that overall there was a positive response, with most users welcoming the convenience and efficiency of the system.

During the initial weeks of implementation, she said the City’s traffic management team was on site to assist motorists and ensure a smooth transition.

Based on insights gathered during that period, minor adjustments were made to improve the user experience, including slight equipment upgrades.

Following the trial, the system was made a permanent fixture at the No 5 Car Park.

Other projects undertaken around Hamilton last year included upgrade works to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system at the City’s works depot.

A $591,244 contract was granted to Air Care Ltd to undertake the works and the spokeswoman said the project involved full replacement of the depot’s HVAC system, which was no longer operating at optimal capacity.

She said the comprehensive upgrade was necessary to improve energy efficiency, ensure consistent climate control, and provide a more comfortable and functional working environment for staff.

The system is now fully operational and performing as intended, she added.

Last year, the City undertook an assessment of 61 numbered bollards around Hamilton Harbour.

Numbers one to 29 of the structures are normally used in the mooring of cargo ships while numbers 32 to 61 are used generally for cruise and commercial vessels.

The spokeswoman said comprehensive testing — which was undertaken by Edgewater Consultants LLC under a $66,085 contract — was carried out last July to ascertain the structural integrity of the bollards.

She explained: “This test was limited to our numbered bollards 1 to 61, as these were the ones that would be typically used by cruise and cargo vessels.

“Testing revealed that the bollards still met their design strength but still need to be replaced to meet the needs of current ships.

“To date, no bollards have been changed but a plan has been actioned to replace high-priority areas first.”

Among other major projects undertaken by the City last year were upgrades to the traffic light system at Spurling Hill and Cavendish Road.

A contract valued $191,782 was awarded to Gorham’s Management & Design for the project and the sum also covered works undertaken by the company for roadworks on Reid Street.