HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — No quarters are no problem in downtown Huntington, where paying for parking via mobile devices is now an option.
On Monday, Parkmobile officially launched its partnership with the Cabell County city.
Parkmobile is now available at all 1,300 meters on Huntington’s downtown public streets, in the public parking garage at the corner of 3rd Ave. and 8th Street and at public parking lots in downtown Huntington with the exception of the privately-owned meters within Pullman Square.
“I think it shows that we are very mindful about being user friendly in downtown Huntington,” said Bryan Chambers, Huntington’s communications director.
“We want to give as many options as possible.”
The Parkmobile app is available for iPhone, Android or Windows devices and registrations of mobile phones can also be made online at www.parkmobile.com or by calling the toll-free numbers on the meters.
The app is free for download and there will be no parking rate increases, but each online parking meter transaction through Parkmobile includes a 40 cent charge, a convenience fee, to be paid directly to the company.
“People today use their mobile devices to pay for utilities, to make their car payments, so if they can do that with their everyday life, then we think it makes sense to make it possible to use their mobile devices to pay for parking,” Chambers told MetroNews.
Reminders about expiring parking are also an option for mobile app users.
Parkers who would rather continue to pay with coins and leave their smartphones out of it will see no changes at the meters.
“People will still be able to use coins moving forward,” said Chambers.
Parkmobile is already an option in Morgantown along with other major cities like Pittsburgh, Pa., New York, N.Y. and Washington, D.C.