The Austin Transportation Department launched its pay-by-phone parking program on every city-owned street April 25. The program allows users to pay for on-street, metered parking spots through a smartphone application called ParkX that stores license plate and payment information. Users may also call 512-838-3874 or text the word “Park” to the same number and follow prompts to pay for parking. ParkX will alert users when their parking meter is ready to expire and will also send regular parking expense reports, according to a city statement. ParkX will add a $0.25 convenience fee to each transaction. For a limited time, the city is running a promotion for the program which allows users to enter the code “AUSTIN” within the wallet section of the ParkX app to receive an hour of free parking. The city announced its partnership with ParkX, which is used in Texas cities such as Corpus Christi and El Paso, in February and piloted the program on March 22 in the West Campus area. “We’re thrilled to offer people a way to pay for street parking on the go and not have to worry about how much time is on the meter,” Steve Grassfield, Autin's parking enterprise manager, said in a statement.