GAINESVILLE, FL (352today.com) – If you usually park in downtown Gainesville, it’s time to get accustomed to new parking rates.
The City of Gainesville says new downtown parking rates will be enforced beginning September 16.
The city approved the new rates at a commission meeting back in Spring. They say the past few weeks have been used as an “educational grace period” for drivers to get familiarized with the rates, pay stations, and area parking locations downtown. They say the rates will be enforced for real starting next Monday.
The city says the new rates are designed to “stimulate turnover of high-demand spaces in the heart of downtown,” and encourage drivers to “find less expensive and long-term parking spaces farther away.”
The new weekday rates for downtown parking include:
- $0.50/hour with a 2-hour time limit for on-street spaces in the center of downtown, weekdays
- $0.25/hour – or free – with no time limit outside the downtown core, weekdays
- $0.50/hour – or free – with no time limit for off-street lot parking, weekdays
- SW parking garage: $0.50/hour with no time limit. Permits are available at monthly ($40) or quarterly ($100) rates
- Employees of downtown businesses may purchase a discounted monthly permit for the SW Parking Garage at $20/mo.
The city has reportedly installed five new solar-powered pay stations downtown, with a sixth located in the municipal parking garage. The city says pay stations can take coins or credit cards in nearby downtown parking zones. Drivers can also pay for parking online on the Passport Parking app or by calling 352-290-3700.
Downtown parking will remain free on the weekends and city-observed holidays in all areas except spaces located in the SW Parking Garage at 105 SW 3rd St., according to the city.
Click here for additional information on the downtown parking zones.