(PHILADELPHIA) The Philadelphia Parking Authority’s hugely popular meterUP pay by cell parking app hit the 300,000 download milestone today.

The meterUP app is available city-wide and can be used at over 8,000 coin-operated meters and 975 kiosks throughout the city.

The continued success of meterUP comes as the PPA anticipates installing new kiosks in the summer. The new kiosks will require customers to enter their license plate numbers while making on-street parking payments.

Commenting on the milestone, PPA Executive Director Scott Petri said, “We are delighted this very popular and convenient mobile payment option is being so widely used by our parking customers. Our customers now have the convenience of paying for parking or adding time remotely anywhere in the city – instead of having to continuously carry cash or coins.”

Hailed as a major PPA technological innovation aimed at improving customer service and convenience for motorists parking in Philadelphia, there have been over 2.8 million meterUP transactions and now over 300,000 downloads since December 2017. The app has been widely embraced — receiving an IOS rating of 4.8 out of 23,000 reviews and a 4.6 Android rating out of 1,144 reviews at the App Store.

“Our goal with meterUP has always been to further improve customer service and the overall parking experience in Philadelphia for residents and visitors alike. We can expect this sentiment to continue as we install new pay-by-plate parking kiosks this summer,” Petri said.

The meterUP app allows drivers to pay for parking with a smartphone and remotely add more time to kiosks or coin-operated parking meters. Registration and use of meterUP is easy and saves customers time and money. Users can extend parking sessions remotely and stop time early to avoid wasting unused minutes. Customized parking expiration reminders and the ability to make prepayments are also features of meterUP.

Clearly marked signs and decals with zone numbers and directions on how to use meterUP are posted throughout the city. App users are encouraged to ensure their license plate numbers are correctly entered into their app profiles while referencing the correct meterUP zone numbers when making mobile payments.

The PPA has partnered with ParkMobile, LLC to power the meterUP app. With this mobile payment option available city wide, both meterUP and ParkMobile are accepted for payment at all kiosks and coin-operated meters in Philadelphia – and conversely — meterUP can be used for payment in any locale in the country where ParkMobile is used and accepted

“The partnership between the Philadelphia Parking Association and ParkMobile has been a great success since we launched the meterUP app in 2017,” says Jon Ziglar, CEO of ParkMobile. “The high volume of transactions and the positive app store reviews show that we are providing a better parking experience in the city.

Customers are able to acquire meterUP by visiting meterUP.org, downloading it through their iOS and Android device, or by calling (877-727-5303).

2018 Accomplishments

Corporate Governance

• Accredited with distinction by the International Parking & Mobility Institute (IPMI).
• Three (3) garages rated as premier – Parkade on 8^th, Galleria Garage, and Family Court Garage.
• Delivered over $119 million to government entities.
• Reorganized the Engineering department, now known as Construction Management and Capital Projects and hired new Director.
• Changed the name of the IT Department to the Department of Technology and Information Solutions. Made PCI Compliance a key initiative.  Began search for Chief Technology Officer.
• Reorganized the Finance Department and hired a new CFO.
• Reorganized HR Department. Began search for new Director.  Conducted internal & external review of processes.
• Added all contracts to website.
• Processed 228 Right to Know requests.
• Created expanded role of Board involvement and provided comprehensive monthly reports to the Board and public of activities.
• Created Investment Committee with Board member representation. Analyzed all investment activities.  Began quarterly meetings with reports to Board on Investment Committee.  Created new policies and procedures.
• Created new policies and procedures for HR, Finance, Risk Management and Audit departments.
• Reconstituted the Audit department and created audit matrix. Reviewed Audit Findings and required departmental responses and implementation of corrective action.
• Began practice of issuing Annual Reports for On-Street Operations even though not required. Continued bi-monthly meetings with City & School District finance.
• Completed whistleblower policy.
• Began practice of issuing Annual Reports for Airport Operations even though not required. Met frequently with DOA on finance and construction matters.
• Assisted City with implementation of Amnesty Program.
• Testified before the PA House Consumer Affairs Committee about need for additional funding for regulatory enforcement and hosted information hearing with PA House Transportation and Urban Affairs Committees on state legislative agenda.
• Created compilation of proposed local and state legislation providing for safety improvements, revenue enhancement, regulatory authority and recommended changes.
• Negotiated to successful conclusion of Collective Bargaining Agreement for four (4) unions with Teamsters Local 115, AFSCME Local 33 & 47 and District Council 21.
• Post all contracts and POs on website and reported to Board on stats monthly.
• Completed final response to Auditor General & held final meeting.
• All Board Meeting minutes and exhibits available on PPA website.
• Present list of employees trained each month and subject of training to Board each month.
• Adopted formal travel reimbursement policy.
• Began utilization of Project Management software.
• Developed, operationalized and managed the City’s Amnesty Program – high profile, high risk program.
• Developed transition and operational plan for BAA.
• Appointed Equal Opportunity Officer.
• Initiated a Best Practices Comparison Study consisting of parking professionals from around the country to develop operations analyst staff.
• Redesigned the Authority’s Strategic Plan.
• Developed protocols for HR and Internal Auditor reviews of Employee parking violations.

Risk Management

• Reorganized Risk Management and expanded its role and responsibility.
• Adopted a formal policy on policies and procedures.
• Began risk assessment by department.
• In collaboration with Off-Street Operations, revised the damage claim form specific to their operations to better capture the nature of the incident. The revised form allows Off-Street Operations to determine validity of incidents/damage thereby providing Risk Management the opportunity to process valid claims more efficiently.
• Developed a Safety Statement for the Authority in an effort to begin development of a formal safety program.
• Presented a Draft Motor Vehicle Usage Policy to Senior Management to formalize the Authorities processes and procedures regarding motor vehicle usage for safety and insurance.
• Revision of the Risk Management Motor Vehicle Incident Summary form (formerly Chargeable Summary form) – the new form allows for a more efficient manner in which we investigate incidents. The form is shared with Human Resources and the Department Manager.  Some changes to the form include:
  • Providing a description of the incident;
  • Determining whether the incident was preventable, non-preventable, or unable to determine from a loss prevention prospective; and
  • Concluding potential causes of the incident from a safety perspective.
• Reinstated the Driver Safety Training program in collaboration with the Authority’s automobile liability carrier, insurance broker, and PPA Training Academy.
• Provided suggested revisions and insurance language to the HR Travel policy.
• Enhanced risk relationship with Information Technology and hosted an AIG Cyber Awareness Education Session.
• Expansion of Risk Management’s role within the Authority by increased collaboration on various projects, to include developing and implementing an enterprise-wide risk management program.
  • Facilitation of three (3) areas currently in process – Off-Street Operations; Finance; and Information Technology.

Outreach

• Reactivated participation with state and national trade associations.
• Enhanced communication with elected officials.
• Participated in state hearings.
• Public service announcement program to educate on various topics.
• Continued community outreach meetings.
• Completed outreach to neighborhood/business associations to address concerns/issues
• Supported the meterUP city-wide roll-out.
• Created inspection warning program.
• Initiated daily recordings of customer interactions for analysis and reporting.
• Created reporting for analytics of front-desk and BAA services.
• Began monitoring of Parking Violations Branch customer service phone calls.
• Streamlined process for ticket cancellations, saving time and resources.
• Initiated weekly meetings for improved communication and efficiency.
• Implemented a pilot program to expand Saturday hours – BAA.
• Process flow analysis and reconfigured service windows at BAA to assist with crowd control/customer convenience/efficiency.
• Reviewed vacant positions and hired as appropriate to ensure optimal staffing levels.
• Sought opportunities for Community meetings and public ceremonies.
• Initiated daily recordings of customer interactions for analysis and reporting – BAA.
• Focus upon growth of Authority’s social media impressions and engagements.
• Implemented a strategy to utilize video content more significantly.

Human Resources

• Began internal training program for advanced skills.
• Promoted 98 employees to new positions.
• Adopted expanded college internship program.
• Present all employee actions: hires, promotions, separations, retirements, etc., at each Board Meeting.

Facilities

• Refurbished two neighborhood lots – 7^th & Christian & 4711 Baltimore Avenue.
• Turned over $1.5 million to the City from neighborhood lots which was utilized by the City to improve fire company kitchens.
• Completed design and approval for new parking lot under Ben Franklin Bridge adding 197 new monthly parking spots in Olde City.
• Began to explore properties to replace Lot 4 and Lot 1.

Audit

• Reviewed numerous items on Audit list.
• Developed a Mission Statement.
• Reviewed retiring employee’s benefits for accuracy.
• Participated in Government accounting principles.
• Consulted on Amnesty.
• Monitored vacation & sick leave.
• Moved reports closer to annual.

Off-Street Operations

• Expanded and formalized maintenance program for Facilities and included normalized maintenance costs into budget.

Finance

• Implemented new budget process.
• PPA budget on website.
• Re-organized the department.
• Changed finance presentation at Board Meetings to year-to-date.

Airport

• Garage D restoration work was completed in December 2018. This project came in under budget by $906,807.61.
• In FY 2018, the Authority performed 3,981 courtesy services including courtesy tows, jump starts, car location services, and other similar work for airport customers at no charge. These services have a retail value of $307,000.
• The Authority returned 45.5% of the net revenue to the DOA in FY18.
• The net amount payable to the DOA for FY18 $32,270,521.

On-Street Operations 

• Delivered $50,657,124 to the City and School District, more than ever before even with pension & fringe benefit cost increases.
• Parking taxes paid to the City for FY18 totaled $15.87 million.
• Relaunch of Pay-by-Phone through Park Mobile.
• Issued 1,553,552 parking tickets.
• Performed 40,708 tows including 13,956 live stops.

Department of Technology and Information Solutions/Technology

• Began re-organization of department.
• Moved PCI function back into IT.
• Created task force on PCI Compliance.
• Established matrix on PCI implementation.
• Completed rush assessment of department.
• Migrated from Groupwise to Outlook.
• Completed a Virtual Infrastructure refresh (replaced outdated servers).
• Developed protocols for decision making and reporting to the Executive Director and Board.
• HRMS support.