If you're driving downtown for New Year's Eve celebrations, you'll be able to park on the street for free after 5:30 p.m. That would change to midnight under a proposal being considered by the city, and local officials want to know what you think about it.
Outside of downtown, the change would see street parking meters remain in effect from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. instead of the current hours of 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m.
The city's Urban Transportation Commission and Downtown Commission are holding open meetings this month at Austin City Hall to discuss the plan. They're having a public input session on Tuesday, January 11th. Here are the details:
- January 4: Meeting of a joint subcommittee of the Urban Transportation Commission and Downtown Commission from 10 a.m.to noon at Austin City Hall in the Boards and Commissions Room
- January 11: Public hearing on extended parking hours at 6 p.m. at Austin City Hall in the Boards and Commissions Room
- January 19: Meeting of the Downtown Commission at 2 p.m. at Austin City Hall in the Boards and Commissions Room
- February 8: Meeting of the Urban Transportation Commission at 6 p.m. at Austin City Hall in the Boards and Commissions Room
As KUT reported last week, some of the key players in this decision are telling City Council to slow down the process. But 2011 is an election year, and political pressures may be at play. There's also the 2011 budget that must be passed, and the extra revenue generated from extended parking hours could help pay for other city programs.
