Monday marks the beginning of parking changes in downtown Columbus.

Motorists will now be able to pay for parking through a mobile app.

"That will essentially allow our customers to pay via meter still, coin or credit card as well as the ParkColumbus mobile app. We're also making a series of rate adjustments and streamlining our time limits," says Robert Ferrin, assistant director for parking services with the city of Columbus.

Rates and time limits are also changing, with the majority of of meters now costing $1 an hour. Meters at the fringe of downtown will cost 50 cents an hour, and in-demand, high turnover meters will cost $1.50 per hour.

They city will revisit those rates in six months.

"In Short North, we've had great success in implementing this process," Ferrin says. "And we've raised rates and adjusted rates in the last year. Our next rate change will be in April. In downtown, we will be making our next rate change in September."

The changes are part of the downtown strategic parking plan. It's meant to better align on-street and off-street parking rates and streamline the system.

While implementation starts today it may take a few weeks to complete.