Streetline deployed at two Metro stations

Streetline has deployed its ‘smart parking’ sensors at two busy transit stations in the Washington, DC area, which will allow customers to pay for metered parking using their cell phones. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) has retrofitted meters in the Rockville and Fort Totten stations that will work in conjunction with the sensors. Unlike other pay-by-phone systems, when a customer makes a cell phone payment, the now ‘smart’ coin meters will show the amount paid and will confirm that payment has been received within several seconds.

When Metro customers pull into an available space, they will find a decal on each meter showing the unique Parkmobile ‘zone’ and meter number. Customers simply enter the number in the smartphone application and select the time they wish to purchase. The time purchased will be charged to the credit card registered by the user and will be reflected on the parking meter. Customers can extend their session using their phone from wherever they are, with users that do not have a smartphone able to add extra time via phone or text message.

Metro has introduced mobile payments at the two stations to test customer interest and satisfaction over the next several months. With the retrofit of its legacy coin meters, Metro is also hoping to benefit from an improved audit trail, faster meter repairs, and lower collections costs. Parkmobile already provides a pay-by-phone service at roughly 17,000 on-street metered spaces in the District of Columbia, and the system is compatible with Streetline’s Parker smart parking app. The app will allow Metro users to check real-time metered parking availability at the Fort Totten and Rockville lots, as well as find general information about all Metro lots and garages.

31 July 2012