Pay-By-Phone Parking Coming to Alexandria Dec. 9

Beginning Dec. 9, metered spaces in Alexandria can be paid for through phone or with a smartphone app, the city announced this week.

Alexandria selected Pango USA as the service provider out a competitive bidding process. The service will be made available at no cost to the city. Pango will pay for all necessary software, signage and marketing materials.

The service can be utilized through the Pango app for iPhone, iPad, Android and BlackBerry 10 users or by calling toll-free 855-547-2646.

According to a city release:

Customers register their credit card and license plate information to create an account. Each time a customer parks, the app or phone number is used to start parking by entering the zone number found on signs along each metered block. Because parking enforcement officers will use their handheld devices to see a list of license plate numbers with active parking payments, it is not necessary for a customer to visit a pay station or display a paper receipt if the pay-by-phone service is used. 

When the customer returns to the vehicle, the app or phone number may be used to end the parking session. Unlike current options, this allows the customer to pay for only the time actually used to park. If the customer does not end the session, it will end automatically when the maximum time permitted for that space is reached.

Pay-by-phone users will pay the normal metered parking fee, plus a convenience fee of 24 cents per session if funds are drawn from a prepaid Pango account, or 29 cents per session for all others. 

The city drew some criticism on social media for its choice of Pango over Parkmobile, the pay-by-phone service available in DC and Arlington County. One suggested selecting Pango over Parkmobile is akin to selecting Betamax over VHS (look it up, kids).

The city said Pango, which operates in 47 cities around the world, offers a smaller convenience fee than Parkmobile and other operators.

“The convenience fee in Alexandria will be just 29 cents, compared to 45 cents in DC and 35 cents in Montgomery County,” the city wrote on its Facebook page. “This can really add up for folks who need to park frequently. The Pango app will also provide integrated information about area parking garages, avoiding the need for a separate app.”

Pango will provide two hours of free parking to the first 5,000 users in Alexandria and will waive the convenience fee for all users through March 1, 2014.

The single-space meters and multi-space pay stations in the city can still be utilized through traditional means.