Have you driven downtown lately? Recent Downtown Auburn parking changes may have caused noticeably more open parking spaces during the lunch hour. The Auburn City Council on August 7 voted for updated regulations concerning downtown parking. These policies went into effect on August 20.
Here’s a review of the recent Downtown Auburn parking changes:
- Updated time limit: Visitors to Downtown Auburn can use metered parking for no more than two hours.
- Increased rate: In addition to the time limit, visitors must pay $1 per hour rather than the previous 25-cent rate. Mechanical meters will remain at 25 cents per hour until updated to electronic kiosks. This price increase should offset maintenance and operation costs.
- Extended parking hours: Metered parking hours are now 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, which will help parking turnover during the busy dinner hours but maintain regular free parking in the evenings and weekends.
- Increased fines: Violators of the recent Downtown Auburn parking changes must pay $20 for the first violation Thereafter, violators are responsible for a $30 fine and then a $50 fine for consecutive, same-day offenses.
- Maximum fines: Additionally, violators can expect a minimum accrued vehicle towing fine of $100.
- Holiday parking: Visitors can enjoy free parking on holidays and Auburn University breaks.
- Valet parking services: Currently, the city offers valet parking services for $1 per car per hour; the council has approved additional provisions for these services.
Since the recent Downtown Auburn parking changes went into effect, visitors and business owners alike have seen a difference: more available parking spaces. Residents have also noticed something else: deterred student parking. Some students who indulged in the previous, cheaper student parking to attend classes find themselves annoyed by the $1 increase. Consequently, this annoyance frees up space for downtown-specific visitors.
Parking in Downtown Auburn has been a hot-button issue for years thanks to limited space. The new regulations should increase parking turnover to the benefit of businesses and visitors alike.
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