ICYMI: Some Locals Angry After Reston Town Center Ends Free Parking

Editor's note: This article was originally posted earlier this week.

RESTON, VA — Reston Town Center has just announced the implementation of a paid parking app that visitors will have to use to park, doing away with free parking -- and many locals are chafing at the news.

Starting Sept. 12, it will cost you basically $2 per hour, with some variation, to park at RTC parking garages, and you'll need the new ParkRTC app in order to reserve and pay for your spot. Parking will be free on the weekends and during major events. Street rates will be $3 per hour, with a two-hour max, and street parking is free on Sundays.

RTC is billing this as a convenient way for patrons to park and as a necessary change in the booming Reston area.

While it's too early to say how the change will be received in the area, many locals are already voicing their displeasure, as you can see below:

. @RestonTwnCenter @BostProperties Paid parking at RTC phenomenally stupid. Tysons solved these problems w/o paid parking. #reston #rtc
— Jim Brown (@jab3rd) August 10, 2016

oh boy. this is going to go over really well... #RTC #reston #nothanks https://t.co/UL4JDsXqs3
— Dan Belen (@3jacks2nines) August 10, 2016

Am I reading these signs right that @RestonTwnCenter is going to start charging for parking in Sept? Guess I'm done with Reston Town Center.
— Matt Condon (@arcane93) August 7, 2016

Reston Town Center argues the app will be beneficial, saying that it will allow users to find parking more quickly, and eliminate long lines exiting or entering garages.

Image via Reston Town Center