If you've been a recent visitor to downtown, you may have heard folks buzzing about LUKE. Who is this new kid on the block? LUKE is the term for the City’s newly installed multi-space parking meters. Coined after their cameo in the 1967 film Cool Hand Luke starring Paul Newman, the new high-tech meters are making downtown a bit more user-friendly.

At the end of May 2007, the City installed 103 multi-space parking meters to accommodate over 1,100 parking spaces as part of Phase One of the project. Phase One of the installation covers the north edge of the Historic Third Ward and various locations in East Town and Westown. In areas where LUKE is installed, the existing electronic single-spaced meter heads have been removed and replaced with a space marker to number parking spaces. The parking space marker is designed to reflect the downtown pedestrian way finding system - each neighborhood and district have been assigned a representative icon and color.

Not only does LUKE accept Visa and MasterCard credit/debit cards and coins, it also talks to other LUKEs in the area. Meaning payment for a parking space can be made at any LUKE meter as long as the space number is entered. Additionally, LUKE provides a receipt that includes the time when the meter expires and the space number, making it easier for employees to be reimbursed for parking.

The City anticipates at least two more phases whereby several hundred more meters will be purchased and installed in the central business district. During this transitional period, it’s important to inform your tenants and customers on the use of the new multi-space meters.  The Public Service Ambassadors have been hitting the streets to aid LUKE users, but instructional sheets are also available. If your building or business is interested in obtaining a quantity of LUKE instruction sheets, contact Milwaukee Downtown at 414.220.4700 ext.29. 

Click here for a LUKE instructional sheet.