Parking on the street Downtown is about to get a little bit pricier as parking meter rates, as well as the days and times of enforcement will change beginning June 1.
Currently, the city charges $1.25 per hour to park at a meter, and enforces this Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
But now in an effort to better manage the demand for on street parking during busy hours, all meters’ rates will raise to $1.50 an hour and have longer hours of operation.
Parking meter enforcement in the Entertainment District and South Main area, which includes parking near the Fedex Forum, Orpheum, and Beale Street attractions, will see the most change, as hours of enforcement will be extended to Monday through Saturdays from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m.
In order to encourage higher turnover rates on spaces during high traffic hours, the maximum parking time in both the Entertainment and South Main District before 4:00 p.m. will be two hours during the week and four hours on Saturdays.
On all days of operation after 4:00 p.m. the time limit will raise to six hours in these areas.
In the Central Business District, Medical District, areas near the juvenile court and north of Poplar operation and enforcement of meters will also extend through Saturday, but meters will maintain the current hours of operation— 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
During the week the time limit on these spaces will be two hours, while on Saturdays that time extends to four hours.
To save time, the city is also allowing patrons to pre-pay beginning at 6:00 in the morning for any metered spot and remaining time on printed receipts can be transferred to another metered spot.
Rate and time information posted on the parking kiosks will be changed next week.
