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Portsmouth previews T2 mobile-pay parking system; council presses staff on enforcement and delinquent tickets
Summary
City staff outlined a T2 mobile-pay rollout for downtown parking and estimated implementation costs of $8,000–$10,000; council members pressed for a clear enforcement plan, raised concerns about QR-code fraud and displaced Harbor Tower parkers, and asked staff to return with specific enforcement dates and revenue analysis.
Portsmouth City Engineer James Wright presented a plan to roll out the T2 mobile-pay parking system for downtown, describing a contactless, browser-based payment option that "does not require an app" and allows customers to pay by text or QR code and extend sessions on their phones.
The presentation emphasized customer features and a rapid rollout: Wright said installation and contract matters would take about 30–45 days and then roughly three weeks to complete application and training. He estimated initial implementation costs at "between 8 to $10,000," plus ongoing maintenance of signs and operational expenses.
Council members focused less on the vendor features than on enforcement and local impacts. Councilman Hugo, the council liaison to the parking authority, described several downtown parking problems—customers who need more than two hours, employees with no safe nearby parking, and residents living above shops who rely on curb spaces—and urged creation of a dedicated working group for High Street. He warned that the planned demolition of the Harbor Tower garage for a waterfront renovation will displace about "250 cars," requiring short‑term parking solutions.
Several members asked how the new payment system would integrate with existing enforcement. Wright said the city’s parking enforcement technicians currently use iPads that create GPS‑stamped records and that the T2 system can trigger customer notifications, reminders and collection workflows. Council members pressed whether the technology would remove staff tasks or simply change them; staff responded that enforcement still requires human review, court processing and collection steps.
Delinquent tickets and enforcement appetite drew sustained debate. Council members proposed options including forgiving old/uncollected tickets, offering validation or business payment passes, and temporarily extending the free window (one council member suggested increasing two hours to three). City Manager Steven Carter and staff said they could present revenue estimates from the enterprise fund, likely impacts from different enforcement choices, and a recommended start date for enforcement. Several members asked staff to return with a concrete plan and public notice timeline.
Quotes and context: James Wright said the system "does not require an app" and allows customers to "pay by text message or QR code." City Manager Steven Carter described the enterprise fund goal: parking should be self‑sustaining, and new fees and enforcement would be part of returning it to that state.
What happens next: Council asked staff to draft and return with a detailed enforcement plan, revenue projections, and proposed public‑notice timing before the council adopts the mobile‑pay implementation or begins stricter ticket collection.
