Downtown Galveston gets parking pay stations

A new downtown parking program is set to go into effect in downtown Galveston on April 4.

The city has installed 16 pay stations and updated signs at various locations. Visitors will have the option of using one of the 16 pay stations or the pay-by-phone system.

The pay stations have been installed at the intersections of 21st, 22nd, 23rd and 24th Streets at Strand, Mechanic, Market and Postoffice. The new parking district is bounded by 20th Street, 25th Street, Harborside and Church Street.

A convenient feature of the parking changes is that patrons will identify their vehicles by license plate number, allowing them to move around downtown without having to re-pay the fee for another location.

Starting on April 4, crews will also begin enforcement of the new rules. Violators will be subject to a $30 ticket.

Paid parking will be enforced Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Parking is free on Sunday, except along the seawall, which has separate rules.

The new downtown parking rate is $1.50 an hour, and there is no longer 2 hours of free parking. Credit and debit cards are accepted at the new pay stations. Payments by phone can be made using a mobile app, calling in by phone or going to the Pay by Phone website (www.paybyphone.com).

Annual passes will not be available for downtown paid parking. Vehicles with disabled plates and placards, as well as disabled veteran plates, are exempt from paying the fees at all times.

Information: Visit http://www.cityofgalveston.org/557/Downtown-Parking or contact the Downtown Paid Parking Customer Service Division at (409) 797-3602.