Parking meters and cashiers are on their way out when it comes to parking-garage styles these days.

The State College Borough Council voted at its meeting Monday to install a more modern, automated payment system for the future Beaver Avenue garage that eliminates the need for cashiers and instead relies on machines to inform customers of how much they owe and take their payments.

Council approved the bid openings for the new garage but gave itself a year to decide on whether to install the technology in existing garages on Pugh and Fraser streets.

A contract to build the 525-car garage was awarded to Leonard S. Fiore Inc. in September. The total project is expected to cost $16 million.

Cost for parking in the garages will remain at 75 cents per hour. The borough expects to profit from its investment in about five years, Borough Manager Tom Fountaine said.

Council member Janet Knauer expressed confidence that the community will be able to adjust to the new equipment.

"I think we have to do a better job of publicity and education," Knauer said.

By eliminating the handling of cash, the new system will improve customer service at the garage, Fountaine said.

"It helps to speed departure from the garage," he said.

Fountaine added that the technology is similar to that used in garages in Harrisburg and Washington, D.C.

Council member James Meyer amended the original motion so that council only voted on installing the machines in the new Beaver Avenue garage, as opposed to including the older garages as part of the bid.

Meyer said the borough would likely save money by waiting until prices for the technology decrease in a year.

Fountaine said the new technology is estimated to cost the borough about $393,000 for installation in the Beaver Avenue garage.

If council decides to install the new technology in the other two garages, the cost will be about $205,000 for the Fraser Street garage and $165,000 for the Pugh Street garage.

Bids for the project will open in January.

Currently, the Pugh Street garage has a modified version of the new system, which includes a cashier. The $165,000 would be used to retrofit the system.

The new system would also have "smartcard" capability, meaning customers could charge money ahead of time to use at the garage, Fountaine said.

Some council members said some personnel would still be needed for troubleshooting in case machines malfunction.

"I think at this time since it's being staffed anyway, I'd leave it that way," Meyer said.

Staff would most likely remain available during daytime peak hours, Fountaine said.