New Parking Pilot Program Primer

(Washington, DC) – The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) will launch the first of several new parking pilot programs on Monday, July 19, and DDOT is reminding motorists there will be changes in how they pay for parking on some city streets.

Over the next three months, DDOT will test out multiple systems from a variety of vendors, including pay-by-space, pay-by-license plate and pay-by-phone parking. The goal is to identify the best technology and solutions to improve the parking experience for motorists in the District.

Below is a map and a summary of the programs that will begin Monday:

1. Parkeon will operate pay-by-space meters in the 900-1200 blocks of Independence Avenue, SW.
   
   The single-space meters will be replaced with multi-space meters. Motorists will enter the number of the space they parked in when they pay. Drivers can pay with a credit card or with paper money. Parkeon also offers a pay-by-phone option.
   
   
2. Duncan Solutions will operate pay-by-space meters on several streets in Friendship Heights: 
   
   
   • 5300 blk of Wisconsin Avenue 
   • 4300 blk of Jenifer Street 
   • 4200 blk of Jenifer Street 
   • 5200 blk of 44th St (north side)
     
3. In those areas, drivers can pay with a credit card or coins.

3. ParkMobile will operate a pay-by-phone pilot that will cover approximately 1,000 metered spaces in Foggy Bottom, on Reservoir Road in Georgetown, and around Nationals Park in Southeast DC.
   
   To use the system, drivers can sign up at www.parkmobile.com, where they can also download a mobile application to pay for parking from a smart phone. ParkMobile will waive its transaction fees during the pilot program. To see a video explaining how ParkMobile’s pay-by-phone system works visit www.youtube.com/DDOTVideos.

A fourth new parking pilot program is also expected to launch late next week:

4. Cale Parking Systems USA will operate a pay-by-license plate pilot in the 1300 block of U Street, NW.
   
   Drivers will enter their license plate numbers in multi-space meters, and parking enforcement officers will be able to tell who has paid for parking by electronically reading the tag numbers. They can pay with a credit card or coins, and there will also be a pay-by-phone option.

The vendors are expected to have staff on location next week to help motorists use the new technology. DDOT plans to evaluate the pilots for 90 days to help develop a long range strategy to upgrade its parking equipment and payment systems.

Other Parking Pilots

DDOT launched another pay by phone pilot in April at 700 spaces around Dupont Circle, Union Station, and downtown on K Street, I Street, and New York Avenue, NW. Motorists can sign up for that service, which is offered by Verrus Mobile Technologies, Inc., at paybyphone.com or by calling 1-888-510-PARK (7275). This service is also explained in a video at www.youtube.com/DDOTVideos.

In addition, the department is currently testing solar-powered single space meters that take credit cards as well as coins.

The public can provide feedback on any of these pilot programs by sending an email to ddot@dc.gov or by calling (202) 673-6813.