Front Page  »  

Paso Robles parking rates double, continues free parking hours

March 4, 2023

BY KAREN VELIE

Paso Robles doubled its downtown parking rates in March to make up for money the city is losing on its parking program. In late February, the city council voted to continue the first two-hour free parking program for at least three months.

“Everyone must register their license plate to begin a parking session, even to qualify for the free two hours,” the city announced in a press release. “Each parking session begins by using the downtown pay stations, the Flowbird mobile application, or pay by text by sending “ParkPASO” to 727563.”

In 2019, the city began charging $1 an hour for parking in the downtown area, with the first two hours free. However, while paid parking revenues have averaged $11,800 per month, on-going expenses run just under $30,000 per month, according to a city staff report.

During the same time period, the city collected approximately $28,500 a month in parking ticket revenue from the same area.

In December, the city council voted 3-2 to eliminate the first two hours of free parking and to raise the hourly rate to $2 an hour, with an expectation the changes will increase paid parking revenue to approximately $85,000 a month.

On Feb. 21, the council agreed to continue the first two-hour free program for a three-month trial period.


Loading...
Subjects:
Related:


20 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

When responsible homeowners are faced with increased expenses, like the recent spike in our utilities, fuel, and food, they respond by making austere spending cuts. Why is that reasonable and effective response lost on our government?


19

$11,800 in paid parking revenue + $28,500 in parking ticket revenue = $40,300 total revenue vs. $30,000 in expenses. Leaving it as it was they were already making money.


11

Just three years ago everything was more affordable… including parking gas and eggs… please make the proper connections Californians….


5

If I gotta pay for parking to spend my dough, I ain’t goin there.


37

Downtown Atascadero around the sunken garden is a gem with great stores and restaurants.


10

Free parking is freeloading off taxpayers, sad to see people unwilling to pay their fair share.


-21

You must work for the city.


10

I do not. I’m a taxpayer who isn’t horrified of paying for the services that I use. Car infrastructure ain’t free, stop pretending it isn’t. (And no, our “high” gas taxes don’t pay for most of our roads). Facts!


-7

Is there a breakdown of the $30,000 monthly expenses?, how much of it is for compensation?


24

I’m certain the thought never occurred to them that they could also simply dismantle the paid parking and create an environment for the downtown businesses to make more money, thus adding to the city coffers. No, that’s too logical.


Sunk Cost Theory. “We’re losing money on this but we’re in so far we’re not quitting!”


40

The purpose of paid parking is to help rotate out parked vehicles, by creating a very small, but psychologically effective cost. If parking is free there will be not enough parking for customers. Raising money to fund the cost of car infrastructure is the icing on top.


-14

Living in the North County, I find parking in Paso city center to be too much of a pain, so don’t shop there or go to their restaurants. All they are doing is creating more undesirable tiresome hurdles to visiting downtown. So I spend my money in other communities that are far more visitor and shopper friendly.


46

I wonder what the the business owners think of the idea. Good or bad for business?


21

That’s ok, I’ll just shop in the Arroyo Grande area thank you very much!


18

AG and Paso are about equidistant from my house. Both have fine restaurants. Why would I choose Paso over AG when I’ll have to pay an extra $4 in parking expenses? The answer is, I won’t.


17

They’re like an hour away from each other, how is that practical. You’ll be spending more money on gas than the parking!!


-13

Do you understand what “equidistant” means? I live in between them, so it’s 25 minutes, not one hour.


8
1 2