TOLEDO, Ohio — For years, people visiting downtown Toledo during the workweek between the hours of 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., and those visiting in the evening starting at 5, were able to park at metered spaces on city streets for free.
It was appreciated by lunchtime visitors to the area as well as businesses whose afternoon customers may have had that much more reason to visit (as well as a bit more money in their pocket to spend.)
But that all comes to an end in 2021.
Starting on Monday January 4, parking enforcement will go from 8 a.m - 6 p.m.
Here's a closer look at what you can expect.
ALL-DAY PAID METER PARKING
Perhaps the biggest change is all-day paid meter parking. Enforcement will operate Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., eliminating free lunchtime parking and extending the day by one hour.
The income generated by the adjustments will support downtown Toledo beautification, wayfinding, reinvestment in the parking system and other projects.
Toledo City Council will approve all incremental net income expenditures.
TWO-HOUR LIMITS ON METERS
On-street parking meters will be available for short-term parking for up to two hours. Parking lots and garages will be available for long-term parking exceeding two hours.
With this change, city leaders believe there will be a higher turnover of cars on the street, helping patrons find more available on-street parking.
The rate of $.25 per every 15 minutes remains unchanged.
ACCELERATED ENFORCEMENT
In an effort to encourage timely payment of tickets and to discourage repeat offenders, the following graduated parking ticket fines will be enforced:
- 1st – 4th Offense: $10 (current fine)
- 5th – 9th Offense: $20
- 10th+ Offense: $30
Visit the Park Smart website for more information on how to pay parking tickets.
Again, the adjustments to Toledo parking will not go into effect until Jan. 4, 2021.
For more information on the parking changes, visit the Downtown Toledo website.
