Auburn, Ala. (EETV) - Beginning January 10th, parking in downtown will increase from $0.25 an hour to $1.00 an hour.
The Council approved the ordinance amending sections of the City Code changing parking regulations to help increase turnover.
All metered parking will be limited to two hours with $1 per hour charged for surface parking and $1 for the first hour and $2 for the second hour for on-street parking. Meter hours of operation will be extended to Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Free parking during Auburn University breaks will end when the ordinance takes effect.
Rates will remain $0.25 for spaces still utilizing mechanical meters until they are replaced by multi-space kiosks.
A Parking Solution
The Council authorized the City Manager and Mayor to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions to serve as a basis for negotiating a development agreement for a new parking deck at 135 N. College St.
The parking deck will bring between 200 and 300 additional spaces to downtown Auburn with vehicle access on Wright Street and pedestrian on Wright and College streets.
The Baptist Student Center currently occupying the lot will not be displaced if the planned deck is approved, it will be built into the deck.
The lot would feature a passive park on the college street side with a pedestrian entrance to the deck. Cars will enter the deck from Wright Street near the new Evolve Auburn Complex.
Valet
The City of Auburn has announced the beginning of valet parking services in downtown Auburn on Friday, Aug. 18!
For months, the City has worked to analyze available downtown parking and find more spaces for downtown visitors. One facet of the Downtown Auburn Parking Plan-2017 is to utilize non-public parking through valet services.
Valet services will be offered seven days a week with varying hours to accommodate brunch, lunch and dinner in the downtown area. Services will be provided for $1 an hour.
The planned hours of operation, with the exception of holidays, Auburn University breaks, football games and varying other times, are as follows:
Monday: 5-10 p.m.
Tuesday: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-10 p.m.
Wednesday: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-10 p.m.
Thursday: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-10 p.m.
Friday: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-11 p.m.
Saturday: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-11 p.m.
Sunday: 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
Drivers will leave their vehicles with an attendant at a valet parking stand set up near the southeast corner of the parking deck between Sofy Copy and the entrance to the smaller parking lot on Gay Street. Cars will then be parked on the third floor of the Gay Street Municipal Parking Deck.
Up to 75 additional spots will be provided through the addition of valet parking with negotiations underway to increase that number.
Two valet parking test runs were conducted this summer during high-traffic downtown events. The Auburn City Council subsequently approved a yearlong contract at its Aug. 15 meeting to begin offering services on Aug. 18. The contract will act as an extended test to determine if valet parking is a viable option to increase parking in downtown Auburn.
Decreasing vehicles downtown
In addition to making changes to existing parking, the City is also working to reduce the number of vehicles downtown by encouraging biking with the War Eagle Bike Share program expanding to downtown Auburn. This summer, the City and the university renewed their partnership to provide the Tiger 10 late-night shuttle service.
**A previous version of this article indicated there was a 75% increase in parking fees. The Article has been revised to accurately represent the 300% increase.
