City offers 2 new convenient parking payment options
October 29, 2009
PORTSMOUTH – The City of Portsmouth will offer drivers two new easy options for paying for on-street parking without even visiting a meter – using a state-of-the-art in-vehicle electronic parking pass or prepaid parking coupons – as of Friday (Oct. 30) at 8:30 a.m.
“These new options have been developed as part of our continuing effort to offer convenient alternatives to our residents and frequent downtown visitors,” said Parking Manager Jon Frederick. “We are very excited about adding these options to our Pay & Display meter program that responded to requests from the public to be able to use credit cards for payment and to reduce the number of unsightly and outdated meters.”
With the prepaid “iPark 2.0” electronic parking pass, drivers simply push a few buttons on the palm-sized device to activate the parking session before leaving their vehicles. The iPark 2.0, which is about the size of an EZ Pass transponder, is easy to use: select the proper parking time limit for the space (15 minutes, 2 hours or 4 hours), push the button to start the parking session on the iPark 2.0, and place the device near the windshield facing out so City parking enforcement personnel can read the meter’s digital clock as it counts down the time remaining. Motorists end their parking session with a push of a button before leaving the parking space, and are only charged the exact amount due for the time parked.
Enrollment in the iPark program is $25 and the device may be purchased from the City Hall Parking Services Office or from the iPark link on the Parking and Transportation Page at http://www.cityofportsmouth.com/transportation. The first 50 iParks purchased at City Hall will come with a $10 parking credit. Additionally, the first 200 devices purchased online will be shipped free and also come with a $10 parking credit. The iPark may be purchased by credit card or an ACH transfer from a checking account.
Parking time may be purchased in $25, $50 or $100 increments, including a service charge ($2.50 for $25, $3.50 for $50 and $5 for $100). A number of iPark functions can be conveniently performed online via the iPark link from the City of Portsmouth web site - purchasing parking funds, receiving a code to reload the purchased amount onto the iPark device, checking transaction history, viewing locations for on-street parking, etc. Parking rates, time limits and stored-value balance are displayed as a scroll on the iPark device's LED screen.
In addition, the Parking Office at City Hall also will sell prepaid parking coupons, which can be purchased with check or cash. The coupons are used like a Pay & Display receipt. They are available in sheets of 10 for $15, with each coupon worth 2 hours of parking. The driver would mark the coupon with the date and time the vehicle was parked, and then displayed on the vehicle's dashboard in the same manner as a Pay & Display receipt.
The coupons are good only for parking within Portsmouth. In the near future, the iPark device will be compatible with other cities that recognize the device for metered parking, including Manchester, NH.
