NORTHAMPTON — A parking rate increase Mayor David Narkewicz proposed last month will go to a City Council vote on Thursday.
Currently, parking on Main Street is restricted to one hour, which costs 75 cents. The proposal calls for $1 per hour and would allow parking for up to two hours. Councilors will vote on the proposed ordinance during their regularly scheduled meeting Thursday at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers.
Narkewicz is proposing the changes based on recommendations made by Walker Parking Consultants in an April 2015 study. The mayor said Main Street offers prime parking and should be priced accordingly, so as to inspire more people to park in cheaper spaces alongside streets and in public lots.
Narkewicz said the estimated annual revenue increase would be approximately $56,000 and has emphasized the proposal is not driven by increasing parking revenues.
The proposed changes, Narkewicz said, are part of a broader parking plan in the works, which includes retrofitting existing kiosks to allow consumers to pay with credit cards as well as a downloadable mobile phone application.
Amanda Drane can be contacted at adrane@gazettenet.com.