NYC launches app allowing drivers to pay metered parking on smartphone

Dec. 19, 2016 By Hannah Wulkan

Drivers will soon be able to park on the street without worrying about having to pay at the meter.

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced this morning a new initiative that would allow customers to pay for on street parking directly from a smartphone app. The new program, called ParkNYC, will begin its roll out this month in certain parts of the city, and will be at all 85,000 DOT parking spots throughout the city by next summer.

A DOT spokesperson would not specify when exactly the program would come to Queens, but said, “The specific rollout of the phasing is still being determined, but we are on an aggressive timetable to get this into all five boroughs.”

Under the new program, block-specific parking rates and time limits will remain the same, but will offer users an alternative method to meters to pay for parking.

“Parking in New York City can be a challenge, but ParkNYC will make it just a bit easier,” de Blasio said. “With no paper receipt and the ability to quickly get on your way, this new pay-by-cell tool fulfills our commitment – made in this year’s State of the City address – that we would help save New Yorkers the most precious of resources: their time.”

The app went live on Friday, and can be downloaded for free on any smartphone. Users can register an account with their license plate number, and then reload the account with money in increments of $25 or more.

When parking, users can enter a unique block code in to the app to confirm where they are parked and pay through the program.

“ParkNYC is a major customer service win,” said NYPD Chief of Transportation Thomas Chan. “Technology is providing the public with an excellent alternative payment option, and in my opinion a more convenient option, to ease their busy days. In the old days you usually needed a bunch of quarters and you had to watch the meter. Now all you need is ParkNYC and your mobile device.”

One of the primary benefits of the app is it allows users to extend their parking time without returning to the car, though DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg noted that the DOT would still have meters on the street accepting cash and credit cards for those who do not wish to use the app.

The process for using ParkNYC is very simple:

Downloadthe ParkNYC app or go to parknyc.org to register an account.
Enter personal informationincluding phone number and email; create a password.
Provide a license plate numberfor the account and set alert/notification preferences.
Load your wallet. A ParkNYC wallet works like EZPass, and can be reloaded in increments as low as $25. Once registered, drivers may use the mobile app, internet or a toll-free number to pay for parking.
Park. After parking, enter the unique zone number for block and length of time. After confirmation, the driver is set!
Extend. If time is running out and maximum time has not already been reached, parking time can be extended without returning to the car.

For more information or to create and account, visit www.parknyc.org.