No more `honor’ system at MBTA parking lots

By News Staff

Reporting by Mike Lacrosse

mlacrosse@abc6.com

If you’re riding the commuter rail this week and you leave your car in an MBTA parking lot, be prepared to pay for parking with your phone as the T has ditched the old honor box system.

Many people showed up at the South Attleboro T Monday morning ready to put their dollars the honor box, but after the big change, it left many commuters pretty surprised.

"Nope didn't know.  I am going to have to figure out a quick way to get it paid,” said  

Warwick resident, Bernadette Bessette.

It's a learning curve on day one of the new parking payment system at MBTA lots in both Massachusetts and Rhode Island as many are still showing up trained on the old system.

“Four dollars. Here I am. I am ready and not technology savvy, so you guys have to get ready,” says Valerie Curley, of North Providence.

Customers must now pay using cell phones, online, or by downloading the mobile app at paybyphone.com.  Commuters can also call 1-866-234-7275, or choose to be billed by mail.

"I am glad they are trying to make it better because the way they had—it was ridiculous,” continued Bernadette.

The MBTA, the largest owner of off-street parking in New England, is rolling out the system at all of its 103 locations Monday.

Those waiting for the train had time to figure it out… "So we just went online and found it and logged on.  It wasn't too hard you had to put in your credit card and your plate number for your car,” said Andrew Jones, of Portsmouth.

Others, like Margaret McAlarney, of Rumford, wished they had planned ahead to pay. "I didn't know I had to register.  I would have done that already rather than stand here on the curb and register now,” she said.

If customers wait to pay, a bill can be expected, costing more it does to pay ahead of time or on the day of. If customers don’t pay at all, a fine is to be expected.

© WLNE-TV 2015