Savannah expands downtown parking enforcement, increases fees

A trip to downtown Savannah could cost a few extra dollars after officials ramped up enforcement and doubled the cost of parking.

The Savannah City Council voted Thursday to charge $2 per hour for parking at metered spaces, as well as expanding the hours of enforcement. Starting in January, people would have to pay the new fee Monday-Saturday from 8 am.-8 p.m., according to the Savannah Morning News.

The changes, which would take place on parking spaces north of Liberty Street, are an effort to “free up more high-demand parking downtown,” the Morning News Reported.

Similar efforts are underway in Macon-Bibb County, as plans are being developed improve downtown parking, which includes installing parking meters.

The Macon-Bibb County Urban Development Authority is developing a comprehensive plan that includes contracting with an outside company to help manage parking services. One goal is to increase turnover along streets where some bushiness owners say vehicles parked too long are causing them to lose out on customers.