Phoenix residents warned of increase in metered parking hours

Phoenix residents are vowing to find a new place to have fun after the City of Phoenix Street Transportation Department began notifying residents, commuters and business owners of the changes to parking meter hours of operation. The increase begins August 18, and changes were adopted by the City Council in June.

Beginning August 18, all parking meters will be enforced from 8 a.m. – 10 p.m., including weekends and holidays. The new hours were enacted to increase revenue for the City from central Phoenix and downtown areas where meters are most often used.

As part of the Council’s action, parking meter rates will also be changing in November of this year. Under a new demand-based pricing system coming in November, rates at credit card enabled meters can vary from 50 cents to $4 an hour, with higher meter rates reserved for high demand-parking during special events. Until demand-based pricing is implemented in November, meter rates will remain $1.50 per hour. The City has purchased and installed 598 new single space credit card enabled meters. With this upgrade approximately 1,500 of the City’s parking meters, or 81 percent of citywide meters, will take credit cards.