Melrose MBTA Lots Will Wait For New Pay By Phone System

The MBTA is rolling out a new system next month that will let commuters pay for their parking by cell phone, instead of cramming dollar bills into boxes, but Melrose residents will have to wait a little longer for the system to be activated at the three commuter rail stops in the city.

Through a partnership with the company Parkmobile USA, MBTA riders can create a free online account and pay for parking either by calling a number that will be posted at MBTA parking lots; by text message; online at MBTA.parkmobile.com; or by using Parkmobile's cell phone app. The new program starts Friday, July 23.

Asked when the three commuter rail stations in Melrose — Wyoming Hill, Cedar Park and Melrose Highlands — would become part of the Parkmobile program, MBTA spokeswoman Lydia Rivera pointed Melrose Patch in the direction of the MBTA's website, which lists the 72 MBTA stops scheduled to start using the program next month. The Melrose commuter rail stations, where commuters pay $2 for parking, are not on that initial list; the MBTA website states that the system will be expanded "in the weeks and months to follow."

The Parkmobile system also allows commuters to print out parking receipts online. After making a payment by cell phone, the commuter's parking space number and time are automatically displayed on a handheld device used by the parking enforcement agent that monitors the lot. The program does require commuters to register their license plate number when creating an account.