The Towne Square parking lot was quiet Monday morning as HotSpot digital parking launched in the space, however the city says it hopes the pilot program will be a success.--NEWS PHOTO KENDALL KING
kking@medicinehatnews.com
The City of Medicine Hat’s new digital parking pilot project launched in the Towne Square parking lot Monday.
The project, which aims to assess whether digital parking is a viable option for Medicine Hat, uses the HotSpot smartphone app, available on Android and iPhone.
City officials say HotSpot will simplify the parking process, so the News decided to test it.
The introduction of digital parking has changed little of the physical Towne Square parking lot, aside from several new signs informing drivers payment is required to park, and to provide information on how to pay through HotSpot.
The signs explain payment can be made through the app itself, or for individuals without the app, by scanning a QR code and paying online via credit card.
For individuals who wish to use the app, they must first download it from either the Google Play Store or Apple Store. Once downloaded, app users must select their region and create a profile.
The app will then ask users if they would like to subscribe to a $20 yearly or $2 monthly plan, plus tax, to avoid service fees per park; then pay per use at $1 per hour or $5 per day, plus tax. Those without yearly or monthly plans will be charged a 20 cent service fee per park.
Once chosen, users will be asked to input their vehicle information, including make, model and licence plate number. They will then be asked to input their credit card information, which will be linked to their HotSpot virtual wallet. A minimum payment of $10 is required to open a HotSpot virtual wallet.
Once all information has been collected, users will be directed to the app’s home screen, where they can select ‘Parking,’ input the Towne Square lot number, choose their expected time of use and pay. Users may select anywhere from 15 minutes to 10 hours, during which time a countdown clock of time remaining will show on the app’s homepage.
If app users return to their car before their allotted time is up, they may request a refund for the time remaining, which will be deposited back into their HotSpot virtual wallet. HotSpot also offers an option to donate the remaining funds to Medicine Hat’s United Way.
Individuals without smartphones are currently unable to park in the lot.
City staff were on site from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday to assist drivers with the app. Leah Prestayko, director of community development, said staff heard from Hatters both for and against the paid parking pilot.
“Everybody we spoke with had a smartphone with them; and so were able to download the app (and) those who did generally described it as fairly easy to use and understand,” Lee Prestayko, director of community development with the city, said.
While the lot was quieter than usual Monday afternoon, Prestayko said she and other city officials are confident parkers will embrace the lot, which had been pay-per-use prior to construction of Towne Square.
