Pay-to-Park Coming to Exeter?

Town officials have a plan to force drivers to pay for parking at more than 100 parking spaces across town.

It would be the only paid parking in town. All public parking is currently free.

The plan, which is in its early stages and has not been finalized, would affect 89 spaces at the and another 52 downtown. The cost would be 50 cents an hour, enforced 10 hours a day, six days a week. Drivers would pay at an automated parking meter machine that would print out a ticket they would have to display on their dashboard.

Town Manager Russ Dean said it would generate about $160,000 in revenue a year. It would cost $44,000 to install the parking meters.

The revenue would be used for streetscape improvements, such as to sidewalks and roads.

Dean said it would be an importance revenue source, since the town has to pay for things like the Downeaster train platform.

The plan calls for paid parking at 20 spaces at the Center Street parking lot and another 32 at the boat ramp parking lot near Swasey Parkway.

The plan is still in its early stages and has not been finalized.

Selectman Frank Ferraro said the plan could create problems like Downeaster riders using free parking nearby on Lincoln Street, taking those spaces from people who live there.

Exeter at one time had paid parking all over town, but it was ultimately scrapped.

Downeaster riders and business owners the plan at a public hearing Thursday.