PayByPhone mobile payments for downtown parking begins May 1
By Jess Schnur
The Chronicle
Starting on May 1, street parking in downtown Winston-Salem will be primarily handled via the PayByPhone mobile application.
PayByPhone is a leader in the parking industry. The City’s Department of Transportation (DOT) has contracted with the company to allow patrons to book parking sessions from their phone or mobile device, eliminating the need for coins with traditional meters. PayByPhone also allows customers to increase their parking time allotment through the app, rather than needing to return to the meter.
PayByPhone parking signs will also denote city-managed parking spaces and will provide information on how to pay, along with days and hours of enforcement.
How to Set Up PayByPhone
First-time users of the application will need to set up a PayByPhone account in three easy steps:
*Download the app through Google Play or the Apple App Store.
*Register their phone number, email, and create a password.
*Connect to a credit or debit card, or use Google or Apple Pay.
Once installed, customers should navigate to the on-street space, open the mobile application, enter the parking location number displayed on the sign referenced in that block, and select the amount of time needed for their stay. Customers who choose not to download the application have the option of calling the customer service number listed on the PayByPhone parking signs to reserve a parking session.
Ahead of the May 1 date of implementation, DOT has been installing the new PayByPhone parking signs to allow customers to book parking sessions.
Additional Municipal Parking Changes
As a decision of the city council back in November 2024, several further changes have been implemented within the municipal parking program, such as a rate increase and technology changes to modernize the point-of-sale transaction for parking sessions in municipally-managed parking spaces. As of May 1, on-street parking rates are set to increase to $1.50 per hour. These changes are intended to streamline parking transactions and modernize the city’s parking infrastructure.
Two city-owned parking decks (Cherry/6th/Trade deck across from the Benton Convention Center, and the Fourth and Church deck) are set to implement PayByPhone later this fall. Off-street parking rates will remain at $1 per hour.
For more information on city-managed downtown parking spaces, visit CityOfWS.org/DowntownParking.
