Customers at two busy transit stations in the Washington, DC, area will soon be able to stop searching for quarters under the floor mats of their cars to pay for parking. Metro customers at the Rockville and Fort Totten stations will be able to pay for metered parking using their mobile phones – even on classic coin-style meters.

Working with Streetline Inc., the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) has retrofitted meters in the Rockville and Fort Totten stations with sensors from Streetline. Unlike other pay-by-cellphone systems, when a customer makes a mobile payment, the new “smart” coin meters will show the amount paid – within several seconds – providing peace of mind to customers that their mobile payment has been received and registered on the meter. 

When Metro customers pull into an available space, they will find a decal on each meter showing the unique Parkmobile “zone” and meter number.

Customers simply enter the number in the app and select the time they wish to purchase. It will be charged to the credit card registered by the user and will be reflected on the parking meter. If time runs out, they can extend their session using their phone from wherever they are (within the posted time limits).  Customers who don’t have smartphones can add time via phone or text.

(Source: Streetline Inc.)