Parking in downtown Annapolis will be cheaper temporarily, with a city holiday parking promotion, and permanently, with new reduced parking garage fines.
The holiday promotion is meant to encourage visitors and city residents to shop downtown this holiday season.
From Nov. 28 through New Year’s Day, the first two hours of parking at metered or kiosk spaces in downtown are free when parkers use the ParkMobile app. Parkers can then extend the time by an hour for the normal parking cost.
At Mills-Hillman Garage during the same time period, the first hour of parking will be free when visitors use the ParkMobile app. Two hours of free parking at the Mills-Hillman, Gotts, Knighton or Park Place garages are available to visitors who shop or eat at one of the businesses that are a part of the city’s Park Shop & Dine program and pick up validation coupons.
On Dec. 4, 11 and 18, there will be $5 parking at the Park Place garage during Midnight Madness, an annual late-night shopping event in downtown, and a free shuttle to downtown and back.
City residents are eligible for two-hour free parking with a resident promo code at any time of the year at four downtown garages: Gotts, Knighton, Park Place and Mills-Hillman. The Calvert Street garage is free from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. on weeknights.
As of Oct. 31, fines for garage ticket violations have been reduced from $50 to $33.50. The lower fee was approved by the City Council and accounts for hourly rate of $3.50, a $5.25 administrative fee and a $25 violation.
Eliminating unnecessary fines at city garages, and instead charging only for time used, is one of the parking issues presumptive Mayor-elect Democrat Jared Littmann said he plans to work on once he takes office in December.
At the Mills-Hillman garage, these fees have been criticized for punishing visitors who misjudge how long they plan to park in the garage. Visitors are asked to pay for the parking they estimate they will use once they park in the garage, and may be charged a fine if they overstay if they do not extend their stay through the app or text-to-pay.
Have a news tip? Contact Katharine Wilson at kwilson@baltsun.com.
