First Pay with Your Phone Parking Option Implemented in Downtown Charleston
The new service, PassportParking, will allow parkers to pay for parking right from their mobile phone and get alerts before time expires
CHARLESTON, SC – Charleston residents will no longer have to worry about having cash on hand to pay for parking. Palmetto Parking is proud to announce it has implemented PassportParking, a mobile parking payment service, for a select few of its downtown lots beginning December 10, 2014. This new alternative to paying at the cash box will allow parkers the convenience to manage their parking needs from their mobile phone.
PassportParking users can pay for their parking sessions from anywhere using the app, mobile web application, or interactive voice system. Notifications will also remind users when their parking session is about to expire.
“Being able to pay with my phone provides me with a whole new level of convenience and flexibility when it comes to paying for parking,” said local resident, Tara Cooper. “Currently, the only way to pay for these lots is through a cash box so, if you forget to stop by the ATM, you’re out of luck. With Passport, I never have to worry about having cash on hand when I leave for work in the morning.”
This is the first mobile payment option available in the City of Charleston and will support three of Palmetto Parking’s downtown lots including 177 Meeting Street, 28 State Street and 194 East Bay Street. To utilize the new service, smart phone users must first download the PassportParking app for iOS or Android devices or register online at http://m.ppprk.com. Customers who don’t have a smart phone can register by calling 843-628-2155.
Once registered, parkers have the option to pay using the PassportParking app, mobile website, or by calling the local 843 number. To pay, parkers simply enter their zone number and space number to pay the daily rate. Both the mobile app and mobile website allow parkers to add or update payment card details, as well as manage notification and receipt options. The application will remember the zone the parker frequents making the entire process hassle free.
Customers will not have to display any proof of payment as parking enforcement officers can view payments through a wireless handheld device.
PassportParking will be handing out validation codes to the first couple hundred parkers in these lots to discount their parking fees. Local merchants can also utilize the new service to provide validated parking for their customers. Using Passport’s Merchant Validation system, Charleston businesses can generate special codes to provide customers with discounted parking while shopping. This system provides local merchants with a way to increase foot traffic to their locations and build customer loyalty. If interested in this incentive, local businesses can register at www.passportparking.com/merchants or call PassportParking directly to inquire further.
The mobile pay service is offered by Charlotte, NC-based PassportParking, Inc. Passport currently operates in almost 100 municipalities, universities, and private parking operators nationwide, including Fort Myers, FL; Louisville, KY; and San Jose, CA. The company also developed ParkChicago, Chicago’s mobile parking payment application.
“Our Partnership with the Palmetto Parking focuses on improving the parking experience for its customers,” said Conor Kelly, Account Manager with PassportParking. “By making paying for parking easier, people can now focus on the great things Charleston has to offer. We are thrilled about this project and look forward to a long relationship with the Palmetto Parking as it continues to improve the parking experience for its customers.”
While the mobile pay option is currently only available in the three downtown lots, Palmetto Parking has the option of expanding this technology to additional parking areas following the success of the project.
For additional information, please visit www.passportparking.com.
About PassportParking
Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Passport is the industry’s leading provider of integrated mobile parking and transit solutions. The company provides the most advanced technology that allows parking and transit agencies to manage operations more effectively and efficiently. Passport’s mobile payment systems are deployed throughout the US and Canada, with clients such as Chicago, Toronto, and Boston.
Passport is backed by a highly respected group of investors, including Grotech Ventures and Relevance Capital. For more information, please visit www.gopassport.com