July 23, 2015

Mobile Parking App Arrives in Cincinnati

Motorists can pay parking meters using cellphones

CINCINNATI – Motorists may now use cellphones to pay for parking at more than 4,000 Cincinnati on-street parking meters.

In an effort to increase payment options for parkers, area meters now accept payment via a smartphone mobile application. The application, PassportParking Mobile Pay, enables motorists to pay an on-street parking meter without using coins or swiping their credit card.

“Pay-by-phone parking is representative of what we are doing across our organization. We are using technology to enhance services we offer our residents and visitors,” said City Manager Harry Black. “This technology won’t replace more traditional means of paying to park at a meter, but it gives people a new, convenient option that makes visiting Downtown or business districts across Cincinnati easier. This is one piece of our goal to improve customer service across the board."

Using the smartphone application parkers can make their initial payment to the meter, extend their parking session (until the maximum allowed), view all mobile parking transactions and receive a reminder 10 minutes before their parking session expires.

Those using the app will have to enter a "zone number" as well as a four-digit number associated with the specific space/meter they're using. The zone number for all on street individual meters is 513. 

The app also works for multi-space meters. Each multi-space meter has its own zone number and the motorists parking there will have to include their license plate number instead of a four-digit space number. Multi-space meters encompass 23 separate zones across the city.

When purchasing time at a meter using the PassportParking app, the parking meter will not display the time purchased or remaining. Instead, customers can view their time remaining directly on their phones. In the event a motorist parks at a meter that has time left over from a previous occupant, motorists should utilize the pay-by-phone application when the leftover time expires.

Parking enforcement agents utilize wireless handheld devices to see whether or not a space or plate is paid.

“By providing this option Cincinnati joins cities like Chicago, Boston and New York,” said Community and Economic Development Director Oscar Bedolla. “Like these cities, we understand that improved parking efficiency will positively impact Cincinnati merchants, residents and guests.”

There is a 25 cent convenience fee for using the app that goes to the vendor, Passport. The fee helps pay for the service including system maintenance, communications, development and interfacing to the enforcement handhelds. The rate is comparable to other cities that use the technology.

Drivers can take advantage of this technology right away by downloading the PassportParking app from the iPhone App Store or Android Google Play. If parkers do not have a smartphone they can utilize this service by going to Passport's mobile site or calling 513-253-0493.

Background

This enhancement is part of the City’s ongoing parking modernization plan to improve the quality and efficiency of the City parking system. In accordance with these efforts parking rates were adjusted earlier this year, and motorists saw the introduction of prepay and extended hours.

Prepay allows customers to pay in advance to park at a metered space prior to enforcement hours with the paid hours beginning once the meter is in effect. Providing extended hours permits motorists to park at metered spots for longer periods of time beginning at 5 p.m. in the Central Business District and Over-the-Rhine. 

Visit www.cincyezpark.com for more information.