Downtown drivers should be warned that the city of Flagstaff will soon be implementing a new parking permit system.
The latest updates are available on the recently released parkflag.org. The new website states that the $1 million parking permit system is expected to launch in May, and it will include new kiosks, at least one kiosk for each side of a block. Drivers will be able to pay for their parking at any kiosk, regardless of the location of their parking spot, and by using the smartphone app Whoosh.
For years, parking in downtown Flagstaff and the Northern Arizona University neighborhood has been a cause for concern. Local residents and business owners complain that downtown employees and college students take up the majority of on-street parking spaces and leave their cars parked all day, making it difficult for residents and customers to find short-term parking.
The new parking system will cover the core of downtown Flagstaff, with north and south boundaries at Cherry and Franklin Avenues respectively, and Humphreys Street to the west and Elden Street to the east. Outside of these boundaries, parking will remain free, unless a neighborhood block chooses to join the program. This means the two-hour parking limit within the area will be removed.
From Monday through Saturday, the cost will be $1 per hour, with free parking on Sundays and city holidays. Handicap parking will not be free and the kiosks and app will only accept credit or debit cards. For motorists who want to pay with cash, they can visit the Flagstaff Visitors Center, Parking Office or a downtown business that can accept the cash and then use the mobile app to complete the transaction. There will be a 35-cent administration fee per transaction. The app can be used to pay for additional parking time, and drivers can move their cars to different parking spots as long as they have time available, because the system uses the car’s license plate number rather than parking spot numbers. If they wish, businesses can offer parking validation.
The new system will include fines for failing to pay or letting a meter expire. The first violation is $35, and $70 for the second violation within one year.
The new program will also provide parking permits, both residential and commercial. Visit the official parkflag.org for more information.