Metered parking begins Thursday in Rainey Street District
Starting Thursday, it’s going to cost you to park in the Rainey Street District. The city is activating new parking meters in the area Thursday, according to officials.
In all, 31 pay stations will be activated on East Avenue, Rainey Street, Driskill, Davis, Red River Cummings and Lambie streets. Also, four additional spots near the Mexican-American Cultural Center will now be metered.
The cost is $1 an hour, effective Monday through Wednesday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to midnight and Saturday 11 a.m. to midnight.
In the MACC spots, paid parking hours will be Monday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. for $1 an hour and a $5 flat flee from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m.
City officials say the new spots will make more readily available on-street parking. They say it will also increase safety in the area because there will be more parking enforcement officers on site serving as the “eyes and ears” to the Austin Police Department.
According to a press release sent out Tuesday, the new meters are part of several other changes being discussed for Rainey Street, including converting it to a one-way street and adding sidewalks and bicycle lanes.