More Adjustments Made To Norwalk's Rules For Wall Street Parking

NORWALK, CT — The city's Parking Authority Wednesday continued its efforts to improve parking in the Wall Street District in central Norwalk by modifying its regulations to add 24 short-term parking spaces in the area.

The 24 short-term spaces are "strategically located" throughout the area. In addition, the authority also created a "parking validation pilot program that provides free-parking tokens and pay-by-cell discount codes to businesses to give out to their customers."

These new initiatives follow the decision this fall to waive parking fees in the area through the end of the year. Mayor Harry Rilling and others sought the waiver and the short-term parking spaces in part to simplify the parking process and help businesses in the area.

"The addition of short-term spaces is in direct response to the business community and public who requested various parking spots in the area to quickly do business and leave," officials said in a statement. "These spots were strategically selected near businesses that rely on quick, in-and-out traffic. New signage will also be installed to reflect these changes, as well as to clarify time limits, and when paid parking is in effect."

Paid parking begins in the Wall Street District on January 6, 2020 from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m., and has a 2-hour time limit from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Until January 6, there is no fee to park in the Wall Street District, but there remains a 2-hour time limit between 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Norwalk Parking Authority Ambassadors will be putting "Courtesy Cards" on windshields of vehicles that overstay the 2-hour limit with information of these changes, and reminding drivers that as of January 6, 2020, this would result in an enforcement violation.

"We will be reviewing and evaluating this entire program over the next six months, and will continue to make changes and adjustments as necessary," said Parking Authority Chairman Dick Brescia.

Added Rilling, "Implementing any parking changes is always a work in progress. We continue to listen to the business community and public to tweak the system. The Parking Authority is always open to suggestions and feedback."

From the Parking Authority's announcement:

The parking validation pilot program, entitled "Park, Shop & Dine," will allow participating businesses to validate customer parking at various locations in the Wall Street District either by the Parkmobile App or Paystation. Businesses would pre-purchase the tokens at a 50 percent discount, and it would be up to the businesses to decide when and how to distribute the tokens. The program is expected to launch early in the first quarter of 2020.

Additionally, the Norwalk Parking Authority continues to evaluate parking options on Mott Avenue, where the Al Madany Islamic Center, Magner Funeral Home, and Cornerstone Community Church, are located.

View maps of the short-term parking space locations by visiting norwalkct.org.