Metered parking begins in Downtown Roanoke

ROANOKE, Va. – Some big changes to parking are now in place for Roanoke drivers as a pilot program for metered parking in the Star City begins Monday.

It's a program that focuses on some of the busiest areas of downtown Roanoke, including streets surrounding the Market Building-- Wall Street and Market Street. A section of parking in front of the Wells Fargo Tower on Salem Avenue is now metered as well. There's also a two block area of Franklin Road, near Williamson Road, where metered spots are now in place too.

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Out of more than 1,400 parking spots in the downtown area, about 45 will be included in the metered pilot program. It's part of the ongoing effort to get people moving in and out of the spaces, making it easier to find parking in the busiest areas of downtown.

"We want to attract more people downtown. These are very valuable spaces on the street," says Wyatt Poats, the General Manager of Park Roanoke. "They've been designated very high occupancy, so we're looking to get more turnover with the spots and have more people visit downtown."

The new meter system uses modern technology, allowing drivers to pay with their smart phones and credit cards in addition to change. The first hour of parking is free. Drivers will pay $1 for the second hour and $3 for the third.

The program will be in place for 90 days as Park Roanoke collects feedback and reaction from the community. You can submit your feedback or concerns to parkroanoke.com.