Lexington, KY – The Lexington and Fayette County Parking Authority Board of Commissioners recently approved a proposal to decrease parking meter rates in three meter districts and increase the time limits in a fourth district.
Using statistical data collected by its part time Parking Analyst, the Parking Authority discovered four meter districts where parking occupancy was below 25 percent for much of the business day.
"Generally speaking, best practices nationwide indicate that 85 percent occupancy is a optimum goal." said Gary A. Means, Executive Director, Lexington & Fayette County Parking Authority. "85 percent occupancy means customers can find a parking space on any given block at any time."
In response to the lower-than-optimum occupancies the Parking Authority Board approved the proposal to lower the rates from $1.00 per hour to $.50 per hour in three districts. The fourth district in the Old Vine Street area already had $.50 per hour rates, so the occupancy time limit was increased from 2 hours to 4 hours.
Rates are being lowered in Meter District #6 in the Jersey Street area, District #9 the South MLK area and District #12 in the Water Street and Eastern Avenue area.
A release from the Parking Authority said the organization hopes that the lower rates and extended time limits will encourage more parking and therefore more patronization of the businesses in the affected areas.
The project should be fully complete by the end of May 2013.
See maps below of the changed meters. Click on any image to see a larger version. Maps courtesy of the Lexington Parking Authority.