Calif.’s Caltrain Mobile now allows users to pay for parking through their phones. The app, which launched in February of 2018, has been downloaded nearly 300,000 times and over 1.1 million tickets have been purchased through the app.
The new feature offers users the option to purchase a Caltrain Daily Parking Permit. After selecting the option, users can select the station they parked at and input their parking space number, allowing them to pay for parking in seconds without requiring the use of a ticket vending machine.
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The feature was introduced during a soft launch in December. In that time, over a thousand permits have been sold through the app, with no reported issues. This is the first feature of its kind in the Bay Area and was one of the most requested updates by Caltrain Mobile users.
Caltrain is a proof-of-payment system and requires customers to purchase their fare before boarding. Caltrain Mobile allows riders to bypass ticketing machines before boarding at stations. The app offers One-Way, Day Pass, and Zone Upgrade digital tickets for adults and passengers who qualify for discounted fare.
Caltrain Mobile is ideal for occasional and weekend riders headed to special events, day trips, sporting events, visiting friends, and shopping. The Buy Again feature allows riders to purchase the same ticket as they have purchased in the past with a single touch. Ticket prices are the same as paper tickets and there are no additional fees. Tickets for multiple people can be purchased and used on a single phone. Tickets are activated immediately upon purchase and the rules are the same as the ticket machine.
Caltrain Mobile was designed by moovel North America LLC, who is also the mobile ticketing provider for the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. The Caltrain Board awarded a contract to the company for development of a mobile ticketing solution in January 2017.
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