The building boom that has defined Des Moines since the recession will continue in the new year. Kim Norvell/Des Moines Register
Parking meters in downtown Des Moines' Court Avenue entertainment district will begin charging on nights and Saturdays starting Wednesday.
It is the first step in the city's Park Downtown Des Moines program.
The city wants to move long-term parkers, mostly downtown workers and residents, off streets and into parking garages.
"With this new approach, downtown visitors will be able to find curb parking more easily and closer to the businesses patrons want to visit,” Jennifer McCoy, city traffic engineer, said in a news release.
MORE: Des Moines downtown meters may start charging to park on Saturdays and nights
The changes start Wednesday in the Court Avenue district: Second Street to Fifth Avenue and Vine Street to Walnut Street.
Meters will charge for parking from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday at a rate of $1.25 per hour until 5 p.m. After 5 p.m, parking at the meters will cost $1.75 per hour.
Previously, downtown meters stopped charging for parking at 6 p.m. on weekdays and there was no charge for weekend parking.
Free on-street parking on Sundays remains in place.
As part of the program, Des Moines will lower the hourly rate it charges at city-owned parking garages by $1.
The Park Downtown Des Moines program will spread to the East Village in the spring and the Western Gateway in the summer. All of downtown will implement the new changes by the end of the year.
Learn more about the new parking strategy here.
Changes include:
- On-street meter hours increase to Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.;
- Credit cards are accepted at all meters in the Court Avenue district;
- Garage hourly rates lower to $1 per hour;
- Third and Court parking garage event parking to $5;
- New street parking way-finding signage; and
- Nearly 300 free parking spaces from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m., Monday through Friday at:
- Fifth Avenue and Cherry Street
- Fifth Avenue and Wagner Street
- Polk County Administration lot, 111 Court Ave.
- Polk County Election Office lot, 120 Second Ave.