Parking Regulations Change in Downtown Towson

Baltimore County government issued this statement Thursday, Feb. 5, about new parking policies taking effect on Feb. 14.

Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz announced today an easing of parking restrictions for downtown Towson in the newly revitalized entertainment district. Beginning Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day, parking meters will be free after 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and all day on Sundays. To allow diners more time to enjoy local restaurants, the limit on meters in the entertainment district also will be extended from two to three hours.

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“We are working closely with local restauranteurs to be responsive to their customers’ needs, especially while the build-out of the Towson Square complex and garage continues,” Kamenetz said. “There is ample parking in downtown Towson including 465 meter and surface lot spaces and 4,400 spaces in nearby Revenue Authority garages, including the new 860-space garage at Towson Square which opened this past summer.”

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“We also recognize that patrons like the convenience of on-street parking, and this change allows for an equitable use of both on-street and off-street public parking. Our goal is to make sure that all visitors have easy access to parking when patronizing the many new and established shops and restaurants in the entertainment district,” Kamenetz said.

“This is such an exciting time for the Towson entertainment district. The Towson Chamber believes it’s important that our local business owners, the county and the Revenue Authority continue to work together to maximize parking options in downtown Towson,” said Executive Director of the Towson Chamber of Commerce Nancy Hafford.

“Simplifying parking will to help customers have a more enjoyable visit when they come to Towson. We have so many wonderful locally owned restaurants here, you could easily come at least once a week and not repeat a cuisine for a long time,” said Lisa Martin of Café Troia.

The following new parking meter regulations will go into effect in the downtown Towson entertainment district effective Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015, so make those Valentine dinner reservations now:

• Free meter parking after 6 p.m.
• Free meter parking on Sundays
• Extending the limit to three hours for parking meters on Chesapeake, Allegheny, and Pennsylvania Avenues west of Washington Avenue and on York Road from the traffic circle to Towsontown Boulevard.

Previously, paid metered parking in downtown Towson was required through 10 p.m., seven days a week.

“I’d like to thank County Executive Kamenetz for reexamining this issue. It will be an important boost as we continue to revitalize downtown Towson,” Councilman David Marks said.

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For downtown Towson visitors, the Towson Library garage has a special low rate weekday evenings after 5 p.m. and all day Saturday and Sunday: $2 for the first three hours and $1 for each subsequent hour.

At other times, the parking rate at the Towson Square and Library garages is $2 for the first hour and $1 for each subsequent hour, with discounts for library patrons.

Cinemark and Towson Square customers can receive parking discounts at the Towson Square garage with validation. Meters have a $2 hourly rate. Both of these garages and all meters are operated by the Baltimore County Revenue Authority.

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