City Conversion of Parking Meters to Accept New Rates Begins Saturday, Aug. 23
All Meters Can Accept Both Pre-Paid Parking Cards and Coins

SAN DIEGO - Beginning Saturday, Aug. 23, 2003, the City of San Diego will begin converting its 4,844 parking meters to accept a new parking meter rate increase approved by the City Council in June. The new parking meter rate of $1.25 per hour will replace the current rate of $1.00 per hour.

The City's Parking Meter District Program invests a significant portion of parking revenue back into the districts where it is collected. The districts include Downtown, Uptown and Mid-City. Established in 1997, the program has invested more than $10.6 million directly back into the districts to fund parking solutions that provide residents and visitors with more parking options and convenience while helping small businesses compete with regional shopping malls even as they maintain their unique, neighborhood flavor.

Parking meters will continue to accept quarter, dime, and nickel deposits to purchase meter time. The new rate can be met with a combination of coins. All meters also accept pre-paid parking meter cards. The City’s parking meter cards allow drivers to refund unused parking time back to their cards--the only program of its kind in the state. Pre-paid parking cards can be purchased at 24 locations throughout the City.

The implementation of the new parking meter rate will begin with parking meters located in the Central Downtown and Hillcrest areas. The new rates will be implemented on all parking meters located throughout the City by Sept. 15, 2003.

For general information on parking, as well as additional locations where pre-paid parking cards can be purchased, visit the City's website at www.sandiego.gov and type "parking meter" in the search field. For more information about the Parking Meter District Program, contact the Community and Economic Development Department at 619-533-4218. To report a meter malfunction call the Parking Meter Maintenance Center at 800-808-5998.

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