City rolls out Passport mobile parking and permit system; committee hears transition issues and daily-permit option

City staff told the Transportation Committee that Oshkosh has completed the rollout of Passport, a web- and mobile-based parking and permit management system, and described initial transition issues and available features for downtown businesses.

Passport replaces the city’s previous vendor for permit sales; the new system allows online purchase and management of monthly lot permits and daily permits through a mobile app. Staff said enforcement is now done by license-plate readers rather than hang tags.

"Passport parking started as a way to sell permits electronically and better manage the on street overnight parking," a staff member said. Staff noted some public confusion during the transition—particularly around where a permit applies (a permit does not allow parking in 2-hour stalls) and the difference between the web portal and the mobile app.

Staff said the Common Council approved a $3 daily permit; with Passport fees, the total cost to a driver is about $3.57. Downtown businesses can purchase validation codes to pay for customer parking; staff noted that the system is compatible with other area vendor deployments and that lot permits no longer use paper hang tags.

Staff asked committee members to direct downtown business owners to in-person assistance at City Hall if they need help with the portal. The committee did not take formal action on the Passport implementation; staff described it as an operational transition with improvements over the previous vendor.