Reston Town Center is Really Trying to Win Over Locals to Paid Parking -- But Will it Work?

RESTON, VA — ParkRTC is off to a rocky start as the end of free parking at Reston Town Center on Sept. 12 has left locals quite unhappy, and RTC is about to go on a charm offensive in the hopes of winning over skeptics. If the early responses are any indication, it's going to be quite an uphill battle.

RTC announced on its Facebook page Sept. 5 that it would be offering people who download the ParkRTC app a chance to win one of 10 $500 Reston Town Center gift cards, as long as you download by Oct. 1.

On Tuesday, RTC posted that it would be having "friendly faces wearing ParkRTC shirts" at numerous RTC events over the next few weeks.

"Our team can assist you with your one-time ParkRTC registration or answer general questions about the transition to paid parking," the post states. "You can also pick up some ParkRTC swag while you're visiting."

Right away, the posts were filled with angry comments from locals unhappy about an app that they feel could expose their personal details to hackers, and what they see as a cash grab at their expense.

"What happens with all the data collected on people through this app?" asked commenter Ray Wedell. "Does anybody really know? Are you really comfortable with this unknown?"

"I love how you guys keep attempting to embrace this paid parking," said Mike Zorger. "It's a joke, you will lose lots of customers, get over yourselves!"

But not everyone is bothered by the change.

"People who want to drive farther for free parking will do so," said Tom Day. "The rest of us who don't mind will enjoy the RTC as usual."