News Release

Administration & Regulatory Affairs
611 Walker, 13th Floor
Houston, TX 77002
Office: 713-837-9533
Mobile: 713-818-8859

City of Houston Announces City-Wide Parkmobile Pay by Phone Parking Program

The City of Houston announces a partnership with T2 and Parkmobile that will allow residents, workers and visitors to pay for parking at all of the approximately 7,000 on-street metered spaces with their mobile phones.

“This is another example of how we are utilizing technology to make accessing city services easier.  Through the use of this innovation, motorists will be able to conduct parking transactions from the convenience of their car and receive alerts before their time expires.  It will help improve turnover of our parking spaces and help citizens avoid unnecessary parking citations,” said Mayor Annise D. Parker.

Drivers can sign up at www.parkmobile.com. Once registered, customers can use the mobile app, the internet, or a mobile phone (1-877-727-5953) to pay for parking.  The parking transactions are transmitted real-time to handheld devices used by the Parking Enforcement Officers.

When customers are ready to park, they will need to enter their vehicle plate and zone number and the amount of time they wish to purchase either via mobile app or a phone call. A digital receipt is then sent to their mobile device. The zone number is displayed on each meter and on signs in each block.

iPhone users will also be able to take advantage of the GPS functionality and save up to 5 favorite zones and license plates. Users can also “quick park” in the same zone that was used the last time they parked.  These additional features are coming soon for Android and Blackberry users.

There is a .35 cent fee per transaction and the customer will receive a reminder text 15 minutes prior to the expiration of their time. Parking time limits will apply and customers must move their vehicles from the specific zone (each blockface is a distinct zone) once they have exhausted their maximum time.

 “We are very proud to offer our services to Houston. Pay by phone offers a new and better way to pay for parking. Parkmobile users have 24/7 access to their online account; they can print reports and easily track their parking expenses. It’s much faster and more convenient,” said Albert Bogaard, CEO of Parkmobile.

To get word out, ParkMobile will have 10 to 12 street teams in the field to assist customers adapt to the new technology. Flyers and wallet cards will be distributed and left with retail establishments for patrons.

For more information about the City of Houston Parking Management, please visit www.houstonparking.org.

About ARA:

The Administration & Regulatory Affairs Department (ARA) manages 10 divisions within the City of Houston, the fourth-largest municipality in the United States.  Since its inception in 2008, ARA has translated public and private-sector best practices of efficient service delivery and cost-effective business processes to enhance Houston's city governance and bottom line. ARA divisions include: Administrative Services, Major Initiatives, Operations, Regulatory Affairs, Strategic Purchasing, Insurance Management, City Council Administration, BARC, Parking Management, and 3-1-1 Call Center Operation.  For more information about our department, please visit our website at http://www.houstontx.gov/ara/