Pittsburghers are utilizing the city’s mobile parking app, Go Mobile PGH, to make their driving experience a little easier. Half of parking transactions so far this year have been made through the app, up from 34 percent in 2017.
Pittsburgh Parking Authority Executive Director David Onorato said the app has made it simple for people parking in the city.
“They can buy the amount they think they need, but if they have to add additional time, there’s no inconvenience. They could do it right from where they’re at,” he said.
Pay-by-plate meters were installed in 2012, and according to Onorato, Pittsburgh was the first municipality in the U.S. to use that technology.
Go Mobile PGH was later deployed in 2015. Onorato said between the two technologies, the city’s parking revenue has nearly tripled.
“Last year [2018] was just over $20 million gross meter revenues, and that includes payments through the meters and through the phone apps,” he said.
Prior to the new technology, Onorato said revenues were $7 million.
Onorato said revenue from 2018 was spent on repairs and the garage system. The authority also shares revenues with the city.
To use the app, users must pay an 8-cent fee.
For each new transaction, the free is paid to Atlanta-based company ParkMobile LLC. Onorato estimates the company has received about $18,000 a month for the last 12 months based on transaction rates.
Onorato said over time, the authority hopes to move toward mobile-only parking payment.
“Meters aren’t going away just as fast as we anticipated. Just like autonomous vehicles aren’t gonna take over the streets next year, but it’s gonna come eventually,” he said. “It may be 10, 15, 20 years, but technology’s gonna change the way we park and pay for parking.”
