City Council to Consider Raising Parking Meter Rates, Reducing Free Parking Hours

The San Diego City Council on Tuesday is to consider changing parking meter rates based on the time of day and location, and reducing the number of hours when drivers are not charged.

The goal is to have 85 percent of the metered spaces used by drivers. The current utilization rate was not immediately available.

Under the plan, high-tech meters with flexible pricing systems would charge between 25 cents and $2.50 for an hour of parking depending on the location of the meter and time of day. Parking now costs $1.25 per hour.

The City Council also may consider extending the hours when drivers are charged for parking at meters. Currently, meter charges are in effect from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Officials could extend the hours until 11 p.m. daily and add Sundays.

City officials estimate the changes would bring in $1.57 million, with associated costs of $620,000 for a net revenue of $950,000.

City News Service contributed to this report.