Fort Myers is rolling out new downtown parking stations, fee changes: Here's what we know.
Fort Myers is implementing new parking stations and fee changes downtown.
The city has partnered with Flowbird to roll out automated parking stations that will replace the parking meters in the downtown area.
Here's what residents and guests need to know:
Are coins still accepted?
Pay stations will still accept coins, but they will now also accept credit cards.
How to use the new system
Parking payment may be issued through the stations or mobile devices.
The credit card processing fee is 25 cents per transaction and the pay-by-text convenience fee is 5 cents per transaction.
Users may also use the text-to-pay feature and access the payment site by capturing a QR code with their mobile camera. Time can be extended using a mobile device, and the text feature can send out alerts when time is expiring.
How many pay stations have been installed?
Thirty-two new pay stations have been installed.
Rate and Zip Zones changes
Zip Zones, two-hour free parking, have been replaced by 2-hour paid parking, $1.50 per hour in-season; a third-hour extension will cost $3.00.
Regular parking lot prices will be the same as the parking garages at $1 per hour, not to exceed $10 per day.
For certain areas, rates are either peak, 75 cents-$1.50 per hour, or off-peak, 50 cents-$1.25 per hour.
What about free 15 and 30-minute parking spots?
They are still available throughout the core of the downtown area with no change.
What are the new enforcement hours?
Hours of enforcement are from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Parking fees will not be enforced on Sundays.
On-street parking is allowed for either 2 hours or 10 hours.
New signage is being installed to indicate the hours of enforcement and the amount of time permitted to park.
The pay stations will indicate a "no payment required" message during non-enforcement hours.
When do the rates go into effect?
The official enforcement date is set for Dec. 9.
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This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Downtown Fort Myers parking: What to know about new stations, fees
