Downtown Dallas Parking

[dfwcre8tive]

Free ride at metered spots to end
Dallas: Vendor works to keep parking devices from staying jammed
07:11 PM CDT on Friday, July 29, 2005
By KATIE MENZER / The Dallas Morning News

Your money's no good – at least in some Dallas parking meters.

BRAD LOPER/DMN
Affiliated Computer Services officials say they're close to having a handle on keeping up with malfunctioning meters. Many drivers have been delighted this month to discover many malfunctioning parking meters on Dallas streets, allowing them to park in coveted spots and save their nickels and dimes. But city officials warn the free-parking party will soon come to an end.

The city started outsourcing parking-meter collections to a vendor this month and has given Affiliated Computer Services Inc. until Monday to get its act together or pay the price. "I think it's reasonable to give them 30 days to work out all the quirks," said Zena Fernino, division manager for the city's parking-management section. "After that, there will be some penalties assessed."

The meters aren't broken. They're jammed – with money. Company officials said learning to deal with change – or setting up a schedule for collecting it, anyway – can be hard. They're increasing the number of collectors, taking inventory and repairing and replacing equipment. "We came into the contract without a repair and maintenance history and have accomplished a lot in a short period of time," said Joe Barrett, the company's vice president of communications. "We feel now that we have our arms around the situation."

Still, the city is getting its due. The vendor pays the city a flat rate – about $9,000 a day – to keep the contract whether the meters are working or not. "The city is not losing money and – if anything – the citizens are getting free parking," Ms. Fernino said.
E-mail kmenzer@dallasnews.com

[dfwcre8tive]

Little change in future of parking payments
07:46 PM CDT on Saturday, July 23, 2005
Tony Hartzel

No cash? No problem.
The future of parking meters, parking spots and parking tickets in the city of Dallas is slowly moving from a world of cash payments to an electronic universe. In a few months, Dallas will unveil its first electronic payment boxes for city-owned parking lots under Woodall Rodgers Freeway in the West End and under Interstate 45/Spur 345 beside Deep Ellum. Motorists a little short on green but flush with plastic will be able to swipe their credit cards to pay the $2 weekday or $5 night and weekend fees for those lots.

The news gets even better. The city also is planning for the replacement of those clunky on-street parking meters with less intrusive technology in the next few years. "That starts to open up lots of possibilities for us," said John Brunk, Dallas' assistant director of public works and transportation. "It allows the use of credit cards, it will open up the look of the streets, and it will be easier to enforce."

Parking is becoming big business in Dallas. The city receives about $8 million a year in meter and parking space revenue, as well as parking ticket payments. Dallas has had a form of electronic payment for parking meters for some time, but officials did not promote it. Motorists who expect to use parking meters regularly can purchase a cash key at the city's parking services office at 1200 Ross Ave. The cash key acts as a debit card. It stores a set amount of money, and then a preset amount is transferred from the card to the parking meter every time it is run through a special slot in the meter. The card can be recharged at the parking office once it is empty. "People who are regulars to downtown have found their way to use them," Mr. Brunk said.

The future, however, is in multispace parking meters. City officials ultimately will have to make a decision between "pay and display" parking meters and multispace parking meters for the 4,500 pay spaces it operates. Both will accept credit cards, but each has other benefits and drawbacks, Mr. Brunk said. The pay and display meters usually handle about eight parking spaces each, but they require motorists to insert cash to receive a time- and date-stamped receipt that motorists must then place on their vehicle's dashboard. Multispace meters allow motorists to park in a numbered spot and make a payment at a single electronic box, which is easier for meter inspectors to monitor.

On the other end of the parking meter spectrum, the city also is making it easier for motorists with parking tickets to pay electronically. Dallas has changed vendors to process tickets, hopefully making it more reliable for motorists to go to www.dallascity hall.com or call 1-866-247-1951 and take care of their tickets. Previously, copies of some tickets had to be shipped to California to be entered electronically. The new vendor is a local company that won't have to worry about logistics in handling the demand for quick data entry, Mr. Brunk said.

[jsoto3]

http://www.wfaa.com/perl/common/vide...parking_mo.wmv

[CityLove]

That's AWESOME. Love it. Great news! I know it's still not the urban ideal we'd all love (people leaving the cars at home and taking DART downtown), but I definitely believe once the news spreads, it will drive business downtown.

[Boredkid]

I live at 509 Elm and kitty corner from my building they are building an undergroud parking garage, I have heard they are putting a park back on top of it and just wondered if anyone knew what it was going to look like. Its the park that used to have the little log cabin on it. Any info would be greatly appricated.

[Random Traffic Guy]

Yes, that is a Dallas County garage, they are thinking alot of the surface parking is going away in the area. It will help out the courthouse users too. Hopefully there can be some kind of unified parking direction system to help tourists find these type of garages at night and on the weekend.

It will be connected with the present underground garage under the Kennedy memorial. I'm not sure what was decided for the exits, I believe it is just to Elm Street. The Commerce Street entrance will be changed back to 2 lanes inbound. The park will be replaced, but I think the latest news was the Neely cabin was being moved. I'm out of touch since I don't work downtown anymore. Anybody?

[drumguy8800]

I live at 509 Elm and kitty corner from my building they are building an undergroud parking garage, I have heard they are putting a park back on top of it and just wondered if anyone knew what it was going to look like. Its the park that used to have the little log cabin on it. Any info would be greatly appricated.

Here's the thread.. a rendering:

<img src='http://forum.dallasmetropolis.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=5761' style='width: 300px; border: 1px solid #000000;'>

[mikedsjr]

Are there actually that many water fountains? That looks like a ton of wasted water or is it recycled? It cool, but wow is that a lot of water.

[Boredkid]

So take it they are going to remove the jfk memorial? that would be a great entrance for downtown dallas though. Wish they would have more trees, something like pegasas plaza would be great.

[Boredkid]

oh ya, thanks for the reply.

[rockaroundtheclock]

I would think that the water cycles through continuously...

[Boredkid]

Ya, but think about evaportation. You know how they tell you not to water during the day. Same thing, fountain shoots water in the air and you lose alot to evaporation. What does that say about a city who tells its residences to conserve water yet it wastes water it self?

[Boredkid]

Here are some pics I took this morning of the underground parking garage being built. I was too lazy to go out side, they are taken from my loft.

[dfwcre8tive]

Council: City can boost parking ticket collection

01:59 PM CDT on Wednesday, April 26, 2006
By DAVE LEVINTHAL / The Dallas Morning News

Without debate, the council Wednesday unanimously approved two measures aimed at improving parking ticket collections.

The first vote authorized the purchase of a $36,000, vehicle-mounted "AutoVu" license plate recognition system that Dallas will use to automatically detect vehicles with outstanding parking tickets.

The vote, which amends Dallas' parking collections and billing contract with Dallas-based contractor Affiliated Computer Services, also creates a parking ticket pay station at the city's Auto Pound and provides for the hiring of two more "boot officers," who immobilize vehicles with multiple outstanding parking tickets recorded to them.

A separate council vote amended city code to increase several parking-related fees, including creating a second, $20 penalty on all parking tickets not paid within 47 days of first being issued. Until Wednesday, late tickets received a one-time late fee. City Hall estimates the new fine will generate at least $386,000 annually.

The council vote also increased, from $55 to $100, a fee for removing immobilization boots from vehicles. The city will also issue a $500 penalty to anyone found tampering with an immobilization boot.

The changes come two months after a Dallas Morning News report revealing a backlog of nearly 1 million unpaid parking tickets worth more than $40 million. City officials say they ultimately want to collect on more than four in five outstanding tickets, compared to about two in three today.

[AndyIvey]

I am sure speaking out against the cameras would have one labeled some sort of freak, but I expected at least one councilmember to address the issue of license plate scanning. I will beat everyone to the punch and start with the aging standby of: “Why do you care if you do not have outstanding tickets?” Personally, I think one could construct a valid argument around the idea that this is not a violation of one’s privacy. We are simply automating a task. I could also see a valid argument that this, not a clear violation of privacy alone, brings us one-step closer to a privacy deprived tomorrow. In my opinion, people believe one of two things. Privacy comes at a cost and society is free to weigh that cost against other wants and needs (ex: safety and convenience). The alternative is that society, like the lobster in a pot brought to boil, will accept a slow decline in privacy, and fail to realize its predicament until it is too late.

[Boredkid]

The crane was removed this weekend from the new underground parking garage on elm st near the west end. I have some photos but cant seem to find the cord for my camera. If I remeber correctly it is supposed to be done this summer.

[dfwcre8tive]

Downtown Dallas is setting a new standard for parking lots
Owners working to make sites comply with beautification rules
06:31 AM CST on Tuesday, January 2, 2007
By DAVE LEVINTHAL / The Dallas Morning News

Park in a downtown Dallas surface lot, and it might, at best, look shabby. At worst, it's a blighted tract of crumbling concrete amid soaring skyscrapers.

But with the new year comes a new city law requiring many downtown parking lot managers to improve their properties with landscaping, permanent fencing and enhanced lighting, among other niceties. And while some downtown interests believe the law is a fine idea, others aren't so certain.

Originally passed by the Dallas City Council in 2004, the first of the ordinance's two phases takes effect Jan. 28. Lot owners have in recent weeks been spotted scrambling to comply, dispatching crews to install gates, plant trees and restripe pavement.

"People maybe aren't moving as fast as we'd like them to, but they're working hard to meet the date," said Bryan Haywood, Dallas' senior coordinator of downtown initiatives.

"And in 99.9 percent of the cases, they not only seem to be following the letter of the ordinance, but the spirit of the ordinance. We're happy with the way it's going."

Save for a few laggards, most parking lot managers seem poised to comply with the city's law, said Paul Lindenberger, operations manager for DowntownDallas, a business advocacy group that's offering to pay half of the lots' cost – up to $25,000 each – for improvements.

As of mid-December, DowntownDallas had approved 26 individual lots' matching grant requests, together exceeding $360,000. An additional $45,000 in grant requests are pending, Mr. Lindenberger said.

"The ultimate goal is not only improve the safety of the lots, but it also dresses up the lots and makes them more aesthetically pleasing," he said. "We want to change it so we don't have these concrete jungles, concrete wasteland."

This month's deadline applies only to a downtown redevelopment zone known as the City Center Tax Increment Financing District – an area roughly bound by Griffin Street on the west, Ross Avenue and Pearl Street on the north, Harwood Street on the east and Young Street on the south. By January 2009, the ordinance requires the rest of downtown to comply.

Ordinance violators face fines of up to $2,000.

The intentions behind Dallas' new law are good, said Michael Anderson, general counsel and principal of Chavez Properties and Star Parking, which operates several downtown lots.

But Mr. Anderson is concerned the ordinance will prove too rigid, penalizing owners near to/or at points where they're ready to develop a parking lot with buildings. It "makes no sense whatsoever" to force lot owners to install potentially tens of thousands of dollars of landscaping, fencing and lighting when, after a few months, they'll turn around and tear it up, he said.

"They're going to have to issue some variances and give people some latitude, unless their noncompliance is blatant," said Mr. Anderson, adding that many of his affected lots already comply with the city's new ordinance. "People should be able to use good judgment."

Mr. Haywood said the law is law – no automatic exceptions are built into the ordinance.

If extreme circumstances arose making compliance difficult or impossible, the City Council probably would have to amend the ordinance, he added.

The ordinance also allows parking lot owners to seek exemptions from the city's Board of Adjustment.

E-mail dlevinthal@dallasnews.com

SPRUCING UP PARKING LOTS

A look at the new requirements for many downtown Dallas parking lots, effective later this month:

Surface lots must feature permanent fencing made of wrought iron, bollards or posts and stainless steel tension cable.

At least one tree or shrub must be planted every 30 feet along a parking lot's perimeter for all lots less than three years old. The landscaping must be "maintained in a healthy, growing condition at all times."

Lots must, at minimum, be lighted from a half-hour after sunset until 2:30 a.m., then again from 6 a.m. until a half-hour before sunrise.

All self-park spaces must be "clearly and permanently identified by stripes."

At least one trash receptacle must be present on the premises.

[dfwcre8tive]

I walked past the huge surface lot at Pacific/St. Paul tonight and noticed that all of the perimeter decorative fences have been pulled out of the ground. I thought it was odd because it had been in place for awhile but today there are only holes left in the sidewalk. Is there anything going on here?

EDIT

They removed the fences and cut a trench around the parking lot for new plantings and the normal downtown surface lot improvements.

[maconahey]

http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/Vi...lsIO372423.wmv

[PGKPS]

Yeah when walking around down on the east end of downtown I noticed a lot of cable fences had been put in-black poles about 3 feet tall with heavy steel cables strung between them, I believe 2 cables. Still saw quite a bit of trash around and about on the lots especially up against any hurricane style metal wire fencing, guess the new style will let the wind blow the other trash around until it gets stuck in landscaping.

[dfwcre8tive]

Prime parking spots fading in the name of development
06:24 AM CST on Tuesday, February 6, 2007
By DAVE LEVINTHAL / The Dallas Morning News
dlevinthal@dallasnews.com
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont...2.296ca86.html

Prime downtown Dallas parking spaces are becoming more expensive and scarce as the city center's development boom begins to swallow hundreds of surface lot spots, city and business officials say.

They warn that more than 1,000 spots could disappear by midyear.This loss of parking capacity along stretches of Main, Commerce, Field and Lamar streets will probably result in higher daily parking fees and more frequent headaches for motorists who don't have monthly contracts or dedicated spaces, the officials predict.

"When you close a parking lot of 250 cars or so, it's like dropping bowling balls in a bathtub: It'll have drastic ripple effects, and only after a while, settle down," said Michael Anderson, general counsel and principal of Chavez Properties and Star Parking, which owns or operates about 38 acres' worth of downtown parking ramps and lots. "At least for the short term, it'll have a significant effect on rates and availability."

Several new apartment and business developments, as well as two new city parks, will cover what was before just barren concrete. More people will use Dallas Area Rapid Transit trains and buses, officials said. And new parking opportunities, in the form of ramps or underground lots, will fill any void created by disappearing surface lots.

"It's fabulous. Instead of a sea of asphalt, we're going to have development and green spaces," said City Council member Angela Hunt, who represents much of downtown. "This shows we're coming out of a years-long slump where we were filled downtown with vacant buildings and parking lots. No one will tell you a parking lot is the best use for downtown space."

A massive lot nearly the size of a city block closed this month in the West End, a large fence ringing what will soon become an apartment development.

Within the next several months, the city plans to begin building two downtown parks along Main Street; they will in part replace sizable surface parking lots. One of those lots is particularly busy, servicing Dallas' nearby Federal Building and 71-story Bank of America Plaza – Dallas' tallest building.

Other lots along Field Street between Ross Avenue and Elm Street may also close soon, though details aren't final, said Paul Lindenberger, director of operations for DowntownDallas, an organization representing center-city business interests.

"I can't do anything but smile," said Bryan Haywood, Dallas City Hall's senior coordinator of downtown initiatives. "This development is going to really help downtown, and while there may be some parking problems initially, we're not going to have a parking crisis or anything."

Some business owners, however, are feeling pinched.

For example, the loss of the nearby West End lot is prompting Y.O. Ranch Steakhouse owner Tony Street to initiate valet service in front of his restaurant, which is expanding.

"It's definitely an inconvenience. It was our primary lot," Mr. Street said. "For now, you just have to drive around and look more. It's become an issue, for sure."

John Abbott of Classified Parking confirmed that rates probably will increase slightly at some of his company's lots. Contributing to that is a city ordinance that went into effect last month requiring many downtown surface lots to be fenced, landscaped and otherwise improved.

"It costs money to do that," Mr. Abbottsaid, "so somebody's going to have to pay for it."

[kenc]

Just as an example.....the lot across from the Holocaust Museum went from $4 or $5 dollars a shot (depending on what was happening Downtown ) to now $8 just since they closed the lot at the DART station. They get 90 bucks for a monthly pass.

[Phillip]

Keep swallowing those old surface parking lots. Dallas, Fort Worth, and Houston all have too many of those. On another note, bring parallel parking back to Dallas! What an embarrassment to see a city with such little parallel parking but giant parking lot after giant parking lot instead. Slant parking is okay in some places, but a city won't be taken seriously as a city with character unless you have parallel parking. I know that sounds stupid, but it's a pattern I've recognized. And by parallel parking, I mean outside of Downtown.

[FoUTASportscaster]

What an embarrassment to see a city with such little parallel parking but giant parking lot after giant parking lot instead. Slant parking is okay in some places, but a city won't be taken seriously as a city with character unless you have parallel parking. I know that sounds stupid, but it's a pattern I've recognized. And by parallel parking, I mean outside of Downtown.

On-street parking actually helps pedestrian activity. It is a barrier between the pedestrian and car traffic, thereby giving a safe feeling to the walker, increasing the amount of pedestrian trips.

[3rd time the charm]

The underground parking garage at elm and record has been open for a few days now, they are still doing alot of work on the park above.

[kenc]

It's $8.00 daily, $3.00 for jury duty visitors, but I don't know if they do monthly. Let's hope the log cabin falls off the truck on it's way back and is damaged beyond repair.

[freewaytincan]

y'all sure hate that log cabin.

[dfwcre8tive]

Dallas handicapped drivers may face parking crackdown
08:56 PM CDT on Saturday, May 19, 2007
By DAVID SCHECHTER / WFAA-TV

Coming to downtown Dallas to take care of some business? Then you had better leave extra time to find a parking spot. Handicapped drivers - who park free - are using up many of the spots on the street by parking all day long.

Sometimes, just finding an empty meter in downtown Dallas, feels like a victory. "It makes you not want to come downtown and do business. It takes a lot more time. You have to come a lot earlier to find a parking spot to be somewhere on time," said Bernestine Williams.

There's a good reason for that. City numbers show that in some areas, handicapped parkers use all the metered spots, parking free all day.

Zena Fernino heads up the city's Parking Division. "It's not in the spirit of what short-term parking was designed for."

One morning, near the Allen Courts Building, we found at least a dozen handicapped vehicles parked all day. For downtown businesses that need the spots for customers, it's a headache. "In most cases the individuals aren't handicapped people," said William Davis, from Office Equipment Company.

We found in some cases, that's true. One woman admitted the placard belongs to her grandmother. "I do business for her, too. So, I use it."

One individual is actually a security guard at the Greyhound bus station. He is 25 years old and perfectly healthy, yet uses a handicapped placard. The number on the tag doesn't match his car. "My aunt, she's disability too. So, I just put it up there because sometimes she comes here, whatever."

We asked why the Parking Division is not stopping this. "Within our authority, my parking enforcement officers do not have that authority to ask for ID," said Fernino.

The police do but last year, Dallas PD did not a write a single violation for the misuse of a handicapped placard. But during the same time, Mesquite managed to confiscate 200, along with $250 tickets.

How's that possible? "It's simply an officer taking the time to do a proper investigation. And if it is a violation of the law, he's basically taking the steps necessary," said Lt. Steve Callarman, from Mesquite Police Department.

Dallas estimates, citywide, more than one in ten spots are used by someone with a handicapped placard, many legitimately. But add up all that all-day, free parking and it totals almost $1.3 million in lost revenue to the city. "It's definitely a big number of lost revenue," Fernino said.

But what's a problem in Dallas isn't even an issue in Fort Worth. They have what's called a 'meter reading ordinance' which means you can only plug the meter one time. So, even if you are handicapped, two hours means two hours.

Fort Worth says it's only trying to be fair and has significantly improved parking spot turnover. "We've seen more compliance by all our citizens to give opportunities for other citizens to come downtown to park," said Randy Burkett, a Fort Worth traffic engineer.

But back in Dallas, as long as the City's giving away free parking, you can't blame legitimate handicapped drivers for following the rules. "There are not discounts for any of the handicapped parkers at any of the parking lots at all," said handicapped driver, Tara Shafer.

The city's parking enforcement manager says she plans to recommend changes to the city council limiting the amount of time anyone can park at a meter.

We'll keep you posted.

[gshelton91]

Part of the deal that got the lot next to the Davis Building turned into parking and apartments... was free or low cost parking for downtown retail right?

Anyone know the details on that... i go to Sundance in Ft. Worth every so often and free parking makes a big difference in me going or not going. I don't know why it seems so hard for Dallas to figure that out.

[CityLove]

Well after reading this article, I paid attention yesterday morning to the cars that were parked at meters in front of my building, the stretch of Main St. between Harwood and St. Paul. I counted at least 8 on one side of the street with handicap tags hanging from the mirrors.

I'm not against the idea, per se...my father uses a handicap tag, and for good reason. But that does seem a bit excessive, especially if those cars are parked there all day long.

[downtownguy25]

i go to Sundance in Ft. Worth every so often and free parking makes a big difference in me going or not going. I don't know why it seems so hard for Dallas to figure that out.

Why dont you just take the train? The few times I have been to dwntn Ftw, I took the train and just walked to sundance square. I have friends that do the same for dwtn Dallas, they park up in plano and take the train downtown, only issue is having to cut the evening short due when the trains stop running.

[monogodo]

I see no reason why handicapped drivers couldn't or shouldn't pay for parking.

I've also seen the metered spots on Lane St. between Commerce and Jackson taken up by vehicles with handicapped tags all day long.

[LH_Newbie]

I see no reason why handicapped drivers couldn't or shouldn't pay for parking.

I've also seen the metered spots on Lane St. between Commerce and Jackson taken up by vehicles with handicapped tags all day long.

I'm with you here... I do think it's important to ensure there are CLOSE and easily accessible spots reserved for handicapped, but I don't understand the free piece. Obviously, they can afford a car. Geesh, how insensitive am I?!

[dfwcre8tive]

Little change in future of parking payments
07:46 PM CDT on Saturday, July 23, 2005
Tony Hartzel

The future, however, is in multispace parking meters. City officials ultimately will have to make a decision between "pay and display" parking meters and multispace parking meters for the 4,500 pay spaces it operates. Both will accept credit cards, but each has other benefits and drawbacks, Mr. Brunk said. The pay and display meters usually handle about eight parking spaces each, but they require motorists to insert cash to receive a time- and date-stamped receipt that motorists must then place on their vehicle's dashboard. Multispace meters allow motorists to park in a numbered spot and make a payment at a single electronic box, which is easier for meter inspectors to monitor.

Is there any news of this happening soon? I think the pay and display meters would be a good idea for downtown. Some of the new cars coming out such as the Smart car take up less than 1 traditional parking spot and eliminating meters would clean up the look of downtown streets. The machines also are solar powered and take credit cards... some in the UK can even be paid via mobile phone!

These are in Chicago:

[vman]

^^^
I like the similar meters in Houston. I was surprised at how much nicer Houston's downtown streets look without those ugly parking meters.

[dfwcre8tive]

This article reminded me of a recent trip to Boston where I saw this sign:




Survey: Downtown Dallas parking costs among lowest in U.S.
11:15 AM CDT on Thursday, July 10, 2008
By STEVE BROWN / The Dallas Morning News
stevebrown@dallasnews.com
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont....403ccc54.html

Suburban visitors and office workers sometimes lament the “high” parking costs in downtown Dallas.

But a new survey shows that Dallas’ central business district has one of the cheapest parking costs of any major U.S. city.

Daily and monthly parking costs in downtown Dallas are about two-thirds the national average, according to a just-released study by real estate broker Colliers International.

On average, downtown Dallas parkers pay $10.50 a day for parking and $90 a month.

That compares to a nationwide average of $15.42 and $153.79, Colliers International found.

But Dallas costs are just a fraction of what drivers pay monthly to park in some major cities including New York ($585), Boston ($460), San Francisco ($350) and Chicago ($310).

Dallas is even cheaper than some other Sun Belt cities including Houston ($175) and Denver ($160).

And the researchers found that it’s not just the soaring cost of gasoline that has added to commuters’ woes.

Overall parking costs around the country have risen for five years in a row.

“Parking inventory in CBDs across the country is increasingly tight,” Colliers International’s Ross Moore said in the report.

“This dearth of parking and accompanying rise in cost, coupled with skyrocketing fuel prices – all in the face of a stagnating economy – exacerbates the everyday headaches faced by commuters nationwide.”

AVERAGE DOWNTOWN PARKING COSTS

Market Daily parking rate (median) Monthly parking rate (median, unreserved)
Atlanta $12.00 $90.00
Boston $33.00 $460.00
Chicago $30.00 $310.00
Dallas $10.50 $90.00
Denver $12.00 $160.00
Houston $14.00 $175.00
Kansas City, Mo. $11.00 $100.00
Los Angeles $27.25 $196.00
Miami $13.00 $118.00
New York (Midtown) $40.00 $585.00
Philadelphia $24.00 $300.00
Phoenix $8.00 $52.50
San Francisco $28.00 $350.00
Seattle $25.00 $260.00
St. Louis $13.50 $105.00
Washington, D.C. $15.00 $240.00
National average $15.42 $153.79
Source: colliers international

[downtownguy25]

Suppose this is one perk of all those hated open lots.

[dfwcre8tive]

Just a warning: the meters in downtown are now active on Sundays. The meters used to be free in the evenings and all day on Sunday, but now they are active 7 days a week.

[jredallas]

^ Boooooooooooo

I wonder how many people that are used to parking on Sundays without paying will be surprised by a ticket greeting them when they get back to their car.

[gshelton91]

Why dont you just take the train? The few times I have been to dwntn Ftw, I took the train and just walked to sundance square. I have friends that do the same for dwtn Dallas, they park up in plano and take the train downtown, only issue is having to cut the evening short due when the trains stop running.

Exactly! That and you are stuck in downtown... no option to go anywhere else in ft. worth. unless by taxi.

I actually could do that in Dallas... I could park at mockingbird station and ride downtown and eventually to Deep Ellum... but as of now i live closer to downtown then to Mockingbird... and you consider that you wait on the train for 10-15 mins... then 10-15 mins to get downtown... and if going to deep ellum switch trains and wait for 10-15 mins and then walk to Adairs --- have a burger and a beer and be back by 11pm or whatever time they stop...

[Mballar]

I just wanted to provide a thread that answers questions we all seem to have about parking in and around Downtown. I certainly don't know the answers. So, if anyone on the forum has information on parking, please share it with the rest of us. Here are some initial questions that many have asked me. However, I can't ever give a consistent answer.

1. Where is "free" parking located?
2. Where are the cheapest lots?
3. Is it safe to park my car Downtown? (I've heard there have been a lot of break-ins)
4. Is there free parking in Victory?
5. Where are the cheapest/most expensive meters?

[downtownguy25]

4. Is there free parking in Victory?

SELF PARKING:
The first 2 hours are free at surface lots and Victory Tower Garage on non-event nights. Event night parking is $10 in Victory Tower Garage. Enter garage on Victory Avenue or Museum Way.

http://www.victorypark.com/DINING/PA...8/Default.aspx

[downtownguy25]

CityPark - There are plenty of parking options Downtown. Try CityPark, a public-private partnership with the City operated by DOWNTOWNDALLAS. CityPark currently is in four garages in the CBD— these garages are only $2 after 5pm and on weekends and only $1 per hour for up to four hours during the day. Keep an eye out for the blue & yellow CityPark signs.

Current participating garages include:

1407 Main Street (entrance on Elm Street between Field and Akard)
DalPark (corner of Commerce & Ervay)
Metropolitan Garage (entrances on Field between Main and Elm and on Elm just prior to Field)
1200 Ross (Ross & Griffin)

http://www.downtowndallas.org/OurPro...portation.aspx

[dfwcre8tive]

GARAGES:

The CityPark garages mentioned above are the cheapest garages downtown.

At the Library garage, the first 15 minutes of parking are free. After that, the first and second hours are 75 cents each.

The city's website says the garage below City Hall is free. Is this true?

The Interurban Garage is free while shopping at Urban Market (requires validation).


METERS:

As far as street metered parking goes, there is no real consistency and the city has recently changed a lot of the times (they used to be free on Sundays but now they are enforced 7 days a week).

Many of the spaces are no-parking zones during rush hour and valet only during the evenings; the maximum time limit on the meters is 2 hours. Be sure to read the meter and surrounding signs as they are all different!

If you are determined to park at a meter, many times the side streets (Lane, Prather, Federal, etc) always have available meters when others fill up.


SURFACE LOTS:

Parking is free in and around the Farmers Market.

The lots under Woodall Rogers and under the elevated 75 seem to be cheaper than surrounding surface lots and provide some cover.


SAFETY:

Break-ins seem to be common with on-street and surface lot parking (even on Main Street); if you are parking a car overnight a garage is probably the safest option.

[NThomas]

Another good idea is to park at a close DART station North of DT (unless you want to suffer as I have with a break-in at 8th & Corinth) like the Cityplace Target or Mockingbird Station (both the DART parking lot and the "hidden" lots under the 3rd phase or the one off of NCX).

[Mballar]

So, it appears that the City of Dallas doesn't have a cohesive, uniformed parking plan for downtown and surrounding areas?

[downtownguy25]

So, it appears that the City of Dallas doesn't have a cohesive, uniformed parking plan for downtown and surrounding areas?

http://www.downtowndallas.org/OurPro...portation.aspx

[Random Traffic Guy]

GARAGES:
The city's website says the garage below City Hall is free. Is this true?

This is true, but there are a limited number of visitor spaces (100ish) and they are often full, especially if there is a CPC or city council meeting going on. The attendant asks for your destination and purpose for the trip, so I doubt it is really open to non-City Hall use. Even with a legitimate meeting, I have been turned away when it is full. I don't know the hours either, but I doubt they would let you in past 5 unless there is some night event at the City Hall.

Given the inquisition to get in, and the fact that the visitor parking is on the west edge of the garage while my destination is usually on the east end of the building, except during the summer I usually park in the metered surface lot on the south side of the building, and the time it takes is the same or less.

[aygriffith]

Garages that aren't connected to the Tunnels system are generally lower. If we're talking monthly, I think the lowest parking (not roof only) is the Jackson St Garage behind the Continental building. You could get in that garage for 50 to 60 a month. I've seen roof parking at the garage connected to the Harwood Center for 50ish.

If you are working downtown or planing to be downtown all day during the week there's usually in before 8am parking at alot of the garages for 5 to 7 dollars for the day.

On Sundays along Ervay the First Baptist members park anywhere with a curb and don't get ticketed. I guess there seems to be a lack of No Parking signs on certain parts of Ervay so maybe you can get away with it on the weekend?

DFW or Dallas specifically downtown parking is probably the cheapest top 5 metro parking in the country both daily/hourly and monthly pass. I know in my travels both east and west I rarely see lower unless the city is half the size or smaller.

[phaedra100]

I was in Minneapolis and it was about the prices you would expect for monthly rates downtown, in the $150 to $200 range. I had no problems parking at meters, and they have a good selection of surface lots and high tech credit card operated ramps. I was a little hesitant to park my bmw supercharger in the ramps because I heard about lots of break ins but they had lots of security on detail and I didn't have a problem. Dallas could learn a thing or two.