[Source: Scott Wong, Arizona Republic] — Starting next year, you may want to keep a few extra coins lying around in your car. The Phoenix City Council this week voted to more than double the cost of parking meters to $1.50 per hour, up from just 60 cents per hour. The council also decided to expand enforcement of its 2,300 city meters to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Currently, motorists drop coins in meters only between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays to avoid getting a ticket.
The rate increase comes as the city looks to find ways to generate revenue and close an estimated $250 million budget shortfall for the fiscal year that ends in 2010. The increase, which would be phased in from January through March, is expected to bring the city more than $1.3 million a year. John Morgan, who oversees the city’s meters, said charging motorists more for street parking also benefits downtown businesses such as sandwich shops, barbers, and banks, whose customers rely on meter parking for their quick visits. “It encourages turnover parking,” Morgan said. “The meters were so cheap people were using them for long-term parking.” [Note: To read the full article, click here.]
Downtown Voices Coalition 