Starting Today Parking Fees at Islington Station Can Be Paid Online

Commuters in Westwood who frequent Islington Station can rest a little easier Friday in terms of paying for parking.

Beginning Friday, a new system by the MBTA called Parkmobile will allow commuters to log onto laptops or smart phones after boarding the train, and pay for the spots at which they parked their cars.

Anyone without access to the Internet on the train can also use a cell phone to call a special number in order to pay. Each MBTA lot will also have a sign with a designated phone number to call for payments.

The new system is designed to help commuters save time when trying to board a train, while also still being able to pay for their parking.

What's more, commuters with smart phones can download a special mobile application that will be made available shortly.

Westwood Town Administrator Michael Jaillett said he thinks even a small window of two minutes used for putting paper money into the designated parking spot deposit box can sway a person's decision one way or the other to either use the train in the first place, or not pay the parking fee.

"I think what probably happens is that it's a decision between not paying and getting on a train or paying, most people make the decision" not to pay, he said. "I'm always running a little bit late, and I have to believe that two minutes can make the difference for somebody actually getting to the station and getting on the train."

As such, Jaillett said he feels that the news system will be beneficial for commuters in town, as well as the transit system.

"I would think it's introducing another level of convenience that's going to encourage people to use the Commuter Rail, which is a good thing," he said. "I think anytime anything you can do to increase the efficiency of the mass transit it's a good thing."

The MBTA currently employees 51,000 parking spaces in 150 separate locations. According to 2008 figures, over 8 million vehicles were parked in a garage or lot owned by the MBTA in one year.

Parkmobile will be implemented at the 70 MBTA-owned lots that currently house cash drop boxes before expanding to lots not owned by the MBTA. Islington Station currently has 39 parking spots, with a fine of $4 a day for each spot.

To become eligible for the service, users simply need to log onto MBTA.parkmobile.com and register for a free account. Once the account is activated, it is accessible 24 hours a day. For more information on the new cashless system, visit MBTA.com.