Get ready to pay more for parking in downtown Rochester

Meaghan M. McDermott | Democrat and Chronicle

Planning a night out downtown?

Get ready to shell out a couple extra bucks for street parking.

Beginning Monday, the City of Rochester is tacking two additional hours onto its on-street metered parking times, extending the hours to 8 p.m. Currently, pay hours end at 6 p.m.

That city anticipates the change will bring in an additional $214,100 annually.

The new hours were included in the city's 2018-19 budget, which passed unanimously on June 19.

Placards outlining the new pay parking times were affixed to meters this week.

Metered parking fees remain unchanged at $1.50 per hour, and are enforced from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. Parking will still be free on Saturday, Sunday and legal holidays.

City spokeswoman Jessica Alaimo said the decision to extend the parking meter hours "was made during a budget cycle with considerable fiscal challenges."

She said the hours are meant to be competitive when compared with other cities and noted that while Buffalo does not charge as late on weeknights, there are parking fees there on Saturdays.

MCDERMOT@Gannett.com