A brand new method to pay for parking is now out there on the 700 block of Washington Road in downtown Huntingdon.
Drivers can proceed to pay for parking utilizing cash or by utilizing the ParkMobile smartphone utility.
Huntingdon Borough supervisor Chris Stevens mentioned one thing needed to be achieved since components to restore the ageing meters are getting more durable to get, if they are often discovered in any respect.
“We now have a tough time discovering parking meter restore components,” Stevens mentioned. “And a number of the time, we simply can’t discover them.”
New parking meters quickly turned an possibility, however there have been challenges.
“One possibility was to purchase new parking meters that take bank cards or enable digital pay at a value of a few thousand {dollars} every,” mentioned Stevens, noting these meters don’t enable using cash.
Using cash subject got here up as borough officers understood that some individuals want to make use of cash to pay for parking, whereas others seldom or by no means carry change.
That meant discovering an answer that was each handy for everybody who makes use of the meters and fairly priced for the borough.
As an alternative of buying new meters, the ParkMobile app appeared like the following most suitable choice.
“So, our present parking meters that work are staying the place they’re. If you wish to use cash for the meters, you possibly can. We’ll do our greatest to maintain them working for coin use so long as doable,” Stevens mentioned.
ParkMobile is a simple-to-use app individuals can obtain on their cellphone as an alternative choice to cash.
“There are indicators up on the 700 block of Washington Road explaining easy methods to obtain the ParkMobile app, and there are stickers on the meters with details about easy methods to pay in your parking proper by your smartphone,” the borough supervisor identified.
He mentioned the price of parking is similar, with an exception.
“Our cost for parking, 25 cents an hour, stays the identical. The one distinction is, for those who use the ParkMobile app, it prices a bit bit extra since there’s a price charged by ParkMobile that the corporate will get, not the borough,” Stevens mentioned.
One additional function with utilizing ParkMobile is that if a parking meter is about to run out, people will obtain an alert. In that case, all one must do is push a button on the smartphone to increase the time.
“I need to emphasize that we need to maintain our present meters that settle for cash as a result of we all know a few of our residents might not have a smartphone or won’t need to use the app,” Stevens added. “We’ll maintain them so long as we will, till we will now not get components for them.”
Since ParkMobile was put in, Steven mentioned it’s already in use.
“We have already got individuals utilizing it” Stevens mentioned, “and it’s utilized in many different communities in Pennsylvania and different states.”
Which means anybody who has the app to be used in Huntingdon can apply it to different cities with ParkMobile, as properly.
ParkMobile is up and working in places comparable to State School, Pittsburgh and Studying. These touring to Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Atlantic Metropolis may also discover it a simple and handy method to pay for parking.
Borough council has already mentioned extending the ParkMobile program to all parking meters within the downtown space. They’ve additionally agreed to introduce and broaden the system slowly, permitting drivers to get used to the way it works.
And utilizing this method is saving Huntingdon loads of cash, since new costlier parking meters don’t have to be bought to implement it. The one change are the indicators and stickers advising drivers that ParkMobile can be utilized, or motorists can proceed to make use of cash to pay for parking.
If anybody has questions in regards to the ParkMobile program, or wants any help, the service provides a toll-free quantity to name, 877-727-5281. People may discover extra about ParkMobile on their web site, parkmobile.io.
RelatedPosts
