Metra commuters can pay by phone, starting on Tuesday

Representatives from Total Parking Solutions, the pay station contractor hired by the village, will be a the Harris Road North and Prairie Crossing Stations until 8 a.m. on Tuesday to help commuters use the new systems, Finance Director Patricia Wesolowski wrote in an email on Monday.

Commuters can go to www.parkmobile.com to use the pay by mobile phone application, she said.

Metra commuters have had to place $1.75 in a slot at fare boxes at the stations, which became cumbersome not only for users, but also for community service officers and finance department staff who have had to unfold and count the bills, Wesolowski said at a December meeting.

The village board unanimously approved a contract with Total Parking Solutions for $63,000 in April, which includes the costs to install five pay-by space stations and maintain the equipment, according to village documents.

$70,000 was budgeted in the commuter parking fund for the fare boxes, Wesolowski said.

Parking fees will remain the same, for now, she said.

At this time, we are not proposing to change the parking fee, Wesolowski wrote in an email. I think this will be discussed later this fiscal year for a possible change next year.