The parking app Parkmobile will allow business owners to offer specialized discounts, in addition to $1-an-hour after-work parking, officials said today.
“I think this empowers businesses in a way that will allow businesses to grow, and it empowers the city by bringing more people downtown,” Mayor Eric Papenfuse said.
Business owners will receive a 10-percent discount when offering bulk discounts to users. They also can validate parking in real time, Papenfuse said. He gave a hypothetical example of Whitaker Center offering to validate the parking for attendees of a show the center is promoting.
The Parkmobile app allows users to save information, such as frequently used vehicles and parking zones.
The Parkmobile app will start with two discounts on March 1.
Users can pay $1 per hour to park downtown from 5 to 7 p.m. with the code “After5.” This pilot program, sponsored by Park Harrisburg, SP Plus and Parkmobile, will run for 3,000 hours of parking. Parking officials will continue the discount if they see an increase in downtown parking, Papenfuse said.
“It will be very easy and very possible for business to promote their discounts,” Papenfuse said.
Parkmobile users also receive four hours of free parking Saturdays anywhere in Harrisburg, as part of a program re-launched by the city, by using the code “LUVHBG.”
The app also promises better communication with users about discounts and parking regulations, Papenfuse said.
Parkmobile users will receive a “welcome to Harrisburg” message, which will outline the day’s discounts. During free parking hours—Sundays, holidays and evenings after 7 p.m.—users will not be allowed to pay, Papenfuse said.
The city also can use the app to communicate updates for festivals and events such as the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day parade, Papenfuse said, giving residents information about the parking situation.
The app will charge 35 cents per transaction, which is a 20-cent increase from Pango’s fee.
Author: Danielle Roth
