What is this thing?!

July 19, 2007 1:13 PM

Does anyone know what this piece of nyc infrastructure is?

I recently went away for three weeks and upon my return I noticed these popping up all over my neighborhood. So far I've seen them on 83rd, 84th and 85th, all between Broadway and West End. Aside from the hazard warning on top, I've seen no other marking or explanation.

posted by funkiwan to technology (7 comments total)

It looks like a phone or police call box is being installed. Check it in a week or so.
posted by kuujjuarapik at 1:19 PM on July 19, 2007

Base for a new streetlight?
posted by jdfan at 1:19 PM on July 19, 2007

I too have noticed these (in the same locations). I just assumed that they were the beginings of payphones.
posted by Charlie Brown at 1:23 PM on July 19, 2007

Could be that they're doing away with the regular coin-fed meters and putting in block-length digital meters that print out a receipt. Many cities are going to those.
posted by SpecialK at 1:25 PM on July 19, 2007

SpecialK got it. That's the pedestal for a MuniMeter, a parking meter that governs an entire block.
posted by boots at 1:30 PM on July 19, 2007

Yup, SpecialK is a genius. Here is an image proving Boots' statement.
posted by Charlie Brown at 1:34 PM on July 19, 2007

DOH! Here.
posted by Charlie Brown at 1:35 PM on July 19, 2007