Some 10-hour parking meters off Locust Street, Second Street and parts of Broadway will soon have permits available for $35 a month.
Columbia City Council approved a proposal last night to partner with Parkmobile, LLC in order to make the permits available.
The permits are marketed to employees and owners of businesses downtown. City Council said the workers and owners “plug the meters” and block up valuable parking opportunities for customers. The permits hope to alleviate downtown traffic and “parking frustrations.”
Fourth Ward Councilperson Ian Thomas suggested the program, as well as an added reduced cost bus pass, but the bus pass was not included in the City Council meeting agenda.
Thomas got the idea from another city.
“In Boulder, Colorado, they have a very successful program where the city Transit Authority gives free bus passes to all downtown employees in the city of Boulder and it is used at a very, very high rate by those employees,” Thomas said.
The new parking permits will be available to anyone who wishes to apply on the Parkmobile application. Only 200 permits will be given, and permits can be automatically renewed through the mobile application.
