Get ready to use a cell phone to feed the meter. The city rolled out the second parking meter pilot program in three months on April 12, making the Downtown experience more welcoming for all.
This time, say hello to the Pay by Phone option. The cashless payment alternative will be offered at parking spaces in three Downtown BID area locations: K and Eye Streets and New York Avenue. The meters will eliminate the need to carry change or rush back to the car to add more time. Neat? You bet, particularly if it reduces your chance of getting a parking ticket and extends your Downtown stay.
To get started, sign up for a free Pay by Phone account by visiting www.paybyphone.com or calling 1-888-510-PARK. Have your mobile phone number, license plate and credit card number handy. The rest is easy. Look for meters with green stickers. To make parking payments, call the toll free number from your cell phone, enter the location number posted on the meter or nearby sign and enter the desired parking time.
What’s really cool: you can opt to receive a text message reminder minutes before the time expires—and call back (repeat, call back not walk back) to add more parking time. And you can do it from any phone. But, you can’t exceed the parking time limit, meaning you will not be able to purchase time beyond the maximum allowed again in that zone for 30 minutes. Parking receipts will be available online.
The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is using innovative technological tools to enhance the DC parking experience. Last spring, the agency installed multi-space meters throughout commercial corridors in Downtown and, in January, began testing solar-powered single space meters that accept credit and debit cards as well as coins.
