Changes are coming to how we park in Montreal.
This spring, Stationnement de Montreal will implement new software for its parking app, offering more services.
The new features will include a map of where you can find empty spots and savings for special events.
“If there is an event in Montreal, we might decide with city hall to give some kind of rebate,” explained Charles Auger of Stationnement de Montreal.
About 700,000 people to pay a little extra for the convenience of the smart phone app.
Since the parking app was launched four years ago, there have been 21 million transactions.
Parking officials say it’s time for an upgrade.
Other features could include deals with some downtown merchants.
“You could receive a notification on the app that the owner of the commerce will give you a rebate,” said Auger.
The technology also allows for pay by plate, something Stationnement de Montreal is looking into – but not for any time soon.
“What we have right now is pay by space, which is going pretty well,” said Auger, admitting though, that the trend in many major cities is towards pay by plate, like the system that’s been in place in Westmount since May.
The hope is to get more users to sign up for the Montreal parking app to help eventually reduce the cost of each transaction for drivers.
“So hopefully in the next coming year we will reduce (the fee) once again the 20 cents,” said Auger.
The parking rates, however, will stay the same.
