City Reduces Parking Meter Hours in Response to Local Business Concerns

Parking meters in the Railyard area will operate from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday during a four-month trial period starting February 18, 2019. After a November meeting with Mayor Alan Webber and business owners along the Guadalupe Street Business District, the Parking Division Director proposed a pilot program to modify parking meter hours in the Guadalupe Street Business District in the hopes of attracting after office hours customers to this business district. 
Starting on Monday, February 18, 2019, parking meters located on Guadalupe Street, Market Street and Montezuma Street between Market Street and Sandoval Street will operate from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; instead of from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 
This modification will be for a trial period of approximately four months ending June 30, 2019. City officials may decide to extend this pilot program as necessary. During this period, parking staff will collect payment and revenue data and analyze the data to determine the overall impact to the Guadalupe Street Business District as well as to the Parking Division’s Enterprise Fund. In addition, city staff will rely upon local merchants to convey the effect of this pilot program on their businesses. If the benefits are significant, this pilot program may be extended.  Studies in other cities have demonstrated longer parking meter hours increase turnover in on-street parking and ensure spaces are available for customers. While not all business owners in the Guadalupe Street Business District have expressed a need for parking hour reduction, they are willing to undergo a trial period.
Mayor Webber said, “We started 2019 with the new shuttle route taking riders more directly through the Guadalupe Business District and we continue to take proactive steps where private business and city leaders come together to support local concerns in every neighborhood.” “We are excited to explore different approaches to help maintain the vibrancy of the Guadalupe Street Business District,” said Noel Correia, Parking Division Director.
The Guadalupe Street Association encourages merchants to monitor the change in their revenues during this trial period. If you would like to join the Guadalupe Street Association please contact Lance Blankenship at lance@onyourfeetsf.com.

Click here for City FB Page parking update.
Click here for Santa Fe New Mexican article on parking.