Normal, IL Introduces New Payment System for Uptown Normal Parking Decks with Passport

The Town of Normal announces plans to implement a new, easy-to-use mobile payment application for parking Jan. 2, 2024, in Uptown Normal parking decks.

The new system, which features gateless entry, reads license plates as users enter parking decks. After parking, users enter the zone number for the deck in which they are parking, their license plate number and the desired length of time for parking in the Passport Parking app.

Zone numbers will be displayed throughout each parking deck in Uptown Normal: Uptown Station, College Avenue and Beaufort Street. Parking fees remain the same, with the first hour free in the Uptown Station and College Avenue parking decks.

Users receive notifications when sessions are about to expire, and they can extend parking sessions remotely, as well as view receipts and parking history. Those leaving the parking deck without paying for a parking session may be fined.

The free app can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play. Patrons can also start a parking session via text and can conveniently manage their parking online at passportparking.com.

“The Town is excited to introduce a modern, more user-friendly experience for Uptown Normal parking deck patrons. We want the parking experience to be hassle-free. No more searching for a parking pass or payment kiosk. Everything can be done on your mobile device,” says City Manager Pamela Reece. “Although you can also pay via a website or initiate a session via text, the easiest solution is the Passport Parking app. We encourage folks to download it before coming to Uptown Normal.”

Updated signage will be installed in parking decks in December in preparation for the new payment system. Users trying to access the system before it goes live Jan. 2, 2024 will receive a “coming soon” message and will continue to pay via the existing kiosks located throughout the parking decks. On Jan. 2, the system will go live and users can use the free app to manage their parking experience. The Passport Parking app is also used on the Illinois State University campus.

In addition to Passport Parking, the Town of Normal is also launching Passport’s digital permitting solution and parking enforcement technology. The digital permitting technology gives residents and visitors a secure method to apply and pay for parking permits, and seamlessly integrates with Passport’s suite of parking and mobility solutions, giving the Town a single view of its operations.

“Passport’s platform provides hundreds of municipalities with the insights they need for smarter decision-making and effective policy management,” says Jake Breig, Passport account executive. “We are thrilled to be a consultative partner to the Town of Normal, and to enhance the parking experience through our technology.”

About Passport 

Passport is a mobility software and payments company that builds solutions to centrally manage complexities at the curb. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Passport is trusted by more than 800 cities, universities and agencies, including Chicago, Toronto, Los Angeles and Miami. Passport’s mobility management platform helps cities manage parking and mobility infrastructure, creating more livable, equitable communities. One of the fastest-growing companies on the Inc. 5000 and Deloitte Technology Fast 500 lists, Passport was also the 2021 Fintech category winner for the NC Tech Association’s Industry Driven award.