The Auburn City Council may consider the future of the free two-hour downtown parking program sometime early next year.
Some people are said to be abusing the program
The council heard a presentation on the program at its Thursday meeting by Auburn Police Sergeant Greg Gilfus, the city’s Traffic Safety Officer. The program allowing two hours of free on-street parking downtown was put into place during the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage the economic recovery of downtown businesses, but Auburn City Clerk Chuck Mason says there have been some complaints that the program is being abused.
On-street parking will be free for 2 hours. Parking enforcement will monitor the on-street parking to maintain parking turnover during Monday through Friday business hours, 9 a.m. through 5 p.m. Tickets will be issued to overtime violators following the free two hours.
All areas of the downtown parking garage on Lincoln Street offer free 2-hour parking as part of this program.
The city has implemented a new courtesy ticket program that will issue a courtesy ticket rather than a parking ticket if you have not received a parking meter violation ticket in the previous 6 months.
The 2-hour free parking program will not be offered in the other city-owned parking lots due to the lots being provided mainly for long-term parking users.
View the 2021 Downtown Parking Promotion Poster
Related: Rock the Top concert series begins Friday night on roof of downtown Auburn parking garage
There are many parking options available in downtown Auburn
- On-street parallel parking on Loop Road, Dill Street, and East Genesee Street.
- On-street reverse-angle parking on Genesee Street.
- Off-street parking lots are available at Court Street, Dill Street, and on Seminary Avenue.
- The Downtown Parking Garage on Lincoln Street offers the first 2 hours of parking for free on the upper floors. The lower level of the garage offers hourly kiosk parking and behind the garage, there are hourly metered parking spots.
- Sign up for Pango Mobile Parking on your smart or cell phone, and pay & manage your parking session remotely.
Free downtown parking will remain in effect at least for the rest of this year. Listen to my full Inside the FLX conversation with Auburn City Clerk Chuck Mason below.
