New parking technology introduced in Chattanooga

 

Starting yesterday, drivers are able to pay for parking in downtown CARTA lots using their cell phones. 

Chattanooga is the first city in Tennessee to adopt technology made available by Parkmobile, a global company seeking to bring innovative technologies to the simple concept of paid parking. 

The service, which is offered free of charge to the city, will require drivers to pay an extra 35 cent service charge for every transaction made using the technology. Parking can purchase time through a smartphone app, or by calling a toll-free number. 

At a ribbon cutting ceremony, Laurens Eckelboom, Parkmobile Executive Vice President of Marketing, expressed his hope that Chattanooga drivers would be willing to pay a little extra for the convenience.

"Millions of people are using our system in cities like Atlanta, Greenville, Washington, D.C., New York, and Boston, so it's a natural extension for us to implement our system here as well."

Mayor Ron Littlefield agreed, saying that the new addition would be "one more convenience" for Chattanooga drivers. 

"Our city is making a name for itself by using these tools that are on the leading edge of what's available," he said. "You'll be able to be sitting in a meeting that's going on longer than proposed, and increase your parking without leaving the meeting. That's really cool." 

When a drivers' parking is set to expire, Parkmobile will send a text message alert presenting them with the chance to purchase more time. Once the time expires, a digital receipt will be emailed to customers. 

Brent Matthews, director of parking for CARTA, said that the new system would not add any cost to the city, as Parkmobile would be installing all of the stations and systems free of charge. CARTA parking rates will stay the same.

Matthews also said that no parking-related jobs would be eliminated due to the new technology, and said the city would be pursuing other measures to upgrade parking technologies in the city within the year, with items such as credit-card paid parking meters.

"This is going to be a good partnership for us," Matthews said. "We've had great interaction with Parkmobile, and the system is innovative for everyone who has a cellphone. With all the traffic downtown, it'll be really nice."