SF BART Adds Mobile Parking at 34 Stations
BART adds PayByPhone app and text payment options at 34 stations with paid parking
BART Adds Mobile Parking Payment at 34 Stations
BART riders can now pay for parking using their phones at all 34 paid parking stations across the Bay Area. The transit agency added PayByPhone mobile app and text-to-pay options on August 26, joining existing Clipper card and credit card payment methods. The expansion gives commuters four ways to pay for parking at BART's 48,000 parking spaces. Officials didn't disclose implementation costs for the new payment systems.
Mobile Payments Join Existing Options
The new payment methods complement BART's existing parking payment infrastructure at stations across Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Transit agencies nationwide have been adding mobile parking payments in recent years, driven by rider preference for digital options and reduced cash handling costs. Washington Metro implemented similar mobile parking in 2022, while LA Metro and Chicago's CTA added app-based parking payments in 2021 and 2020 respectively. BART operates 50 total stations, with 34 offering paid parking facilities.
App Offers Remote Session Management
The PayByPhone app lets riders manage parking sessions remotely, extend time and receive notifications about their parking status. Text-to-pay users can complete transactions by texting the zone number to 72727. BART selected PayByPhone, a parking payment platform operating in over 1,000 cities globally with an established track record in transit parking applications. Officials haven't released projections for how many riders will adopt the new payment methods or whether the changes will affect overall parking usage.
Implementation Already Complete
The payment options became available August 26 at all paid parking locations systemwide. The timeline for developing and implementing the new systems wasn't disclosed by BART officials. The enhancement follows other recent BART improvements including the 2023 Clipper START program offering 20% discounts for low-income riders and 2024 parking lot renovations with improved lighting and security features at multiple stations.
Riders Can Choose Preferred Method
Commuters who drive to BART stations can now select whichever payment method works best for their routine, whether that's tapping a Clipper card, using a credit card at pay stations, managing parking through the mobile app or paying via text message. The four-option system aims to accommodate different rider preferences and technology comfort levels. Riders can find detailed information about parking locations and payment instructions through real-time transit apps like Moovit, which provides updates for BART routes and station amenities throughout the Bay Area.
