West Loop pilot program introduces mobile payment option for metered street parking

CHICAGO, April 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- ParkChicago, a new app that gives drivers in Chicago the option to pay for metered street parking with a mobile phone, has launched a pilot program beginning today in a limited area in the West Loop.

Drivers in the pilot area will have the option of paying to park without having to visit a meter box, display a dashboard receipt or hurry back to feed the meter when their time is about to expire.

"People today are busier than ever and are looking for new features and more convenience when it comes to getting into and around the city," said Dennis Pedrelli, CEO of Chicago Parking Meters, LLC (CPM), which is launching ParkChicago. "The ability to pay for and extend parking while on-the-go – whether that means sticking around longer for dessert at a restaurant or not having to worry about running out of a business meeting early – is a great service for our customers, and we look forward to rolling it out across the city."

Currently, ParkChicago, which is powered by PassportParking, is available only where metered parking is offered within the pilot area. Bound by Madison Street to the north, Monroe Street to the south, Halsted Street to the east, and Racine Avenue to the west, the pilot area was selected for its density and volume of street parking, as well as its mix of commercial and residential development.

Meter boxes will remain in place, providing drivers with multiple ways to pay for parking, including coins, credit and debit cards. ParkChicago will eventually expand to offer mobile payment convenience at all 36,000 metered parking spaces throughout the city.

Get started with ParkChicago
To use ParkChicago, customers must first set up an account linked to a major credit or debit card by using the app, going online to www.parkchicago.com or through their mobile phone.

The cost of parking sessions is deducted from an account pre-funded with at least $20, and accounts are automatically replenished when the balance drops below $10, similar to I-PASS, the prepaid collection system used on Illinois tollways.

While drivers can register for the new service at any time, CPM recommends waiting until ParkChicago is offered in the area serving their parking needs. New street signs displaying the ParkChicago logo will alert drivers to the service's availability.

Pay for parking without meter boxes or dashboard receipts
After locating a spot where ParkChicago is offered, drivers will open the app or the mobile website and enter in their license plate number and the 6-digit zone number displayed on each ParkChicago sign where they have parked. They then choose how long they wish to stay.

Hourly rates using ParkChicago are the same as rates displayed on meter boxes. A 35-cent convenience fee is applied to each mobile pay parking transaction of less than two hours, a rate similar to services offered in other cities. For each single transaction of two hours or more, there is no convenience fee. Customers are clearly informed of the convenience fee before confirming payment. 

Save time by extending parking remotely
ParkChicago users will receive a notification ten minutes before their time expires, and have the option to add more time through their phone.

Just like at the meter box, the purchased time is portable – meaning it can be used until expiration at any metered parking space with the same or lower hourly rate, subject to any parking restrictions posted on the street. 

iPhone and Android users can download the free ParkChicago mobile app at the App Store or at Google Play. Cell phone users can create an account by visiting www.ParkChicago.com or by calling (877) 242-7901 using their mobile phone. To learn more, visit www.ParkChicago.com.

About Chicago Parking Meters
Chicago Parking Meters, LLC (CPM) operates the third-largest metered parking system in the United States and the largest system privately operated under a concession agreement. CPM is responsible for the operation, management, maintenance and rehabilitation of Chicago's on-street parking. Since 2009, CPM has invested over $40 million in system modernization and customer service improvements. With electronic meter boxes serving all of the approximately 36,000 metered spaces in the city's downtown and neighborhood areas and efficient maintenance processes, it is one of the most sophisticated parking operations in the U.S. and was ranked #1 in the world for on-street parking in IBM's 2011 Global Parking Survey. For more information, please visit www.chicagometers.com.

About PassportParking
PassportParking, Inc. (Passport) is an industry leader in providing integrated cloud-based parking solutions, operating in more than 70 jurisdictions. The company provides the most advanced technology and equipment in an enterprise suite that allows parking providers and owners to manage parking and enforcement operations more effectively and efficiently. Passport is PCI DSS Level 1-compliant, the highest achievable certification in the credit card industry. For more information, please visit www.passportparking.com.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140415/73257

SOURCE ParkChicago