Providence Offering Free 2-Hour Parking Promotion In October

PROVIDENCE, RI — The city of Providence is offering a special parking promotion all month long. New users of the Passport Parking app will receive a one-time, two-hour pass.

"Throughout the pandemic, we have seen an increased preference for digital or contactless city services," Mayor Jorge Elorza said. "Whether someone is doing business, visiting a cultural institution or dining in the City, Providence residents and visitors want an easy, secure, and streamlined way to pay for parking. Our residents and users want convenience and we are excited to launch this promotion to spread the word about this reliable feature."

To qualify for the promotion, drivers must download the app and create a new account. The two-hour pass is worth $2.65.

It builds on a different promotion the city announced earlier this year, when Providence launched free two-hour parking in commercial districts through the end of 2021.

The city encouraged drivers to consider using the app, which was launched in the city six years ago. By paying online, users can avoid frequently-touched public services, and allows on-the-go monitoring of how much time is left and time extensions — no need to scrounge coins to feed the meter.