Sign the Petition NOW Opposing Increased Parking Rates and Elimination of Evening and Saturday Free Parking– January 3, 2019
The City of Buffalo’s plan to increase parking rates downtown from $1 an hour to $2 an hour and to eliminate the FREE parking after 5pm by extending it to 10pm including Saturdays. This will supposedly make on-street parking accessible to more people- right- it is another of the city’s ways to get more money. It is clear that based on history, the city cares little about downtown development ( vs. Canalside and Outer Harbor). If the city really cared about public parking, they would offer a map with rates on the city’s website. This would include lots near the train which is free when it is above ground.
The latest is that the you will also need a credit card AND a smartphone to be able to pay. Also, the based on public feedback, the city will return “some” free parking weeknights after 5pm and weekends except for concerts at KeyBank Center, Canalside, Shea’s, and Sahlen Field (Coca Cola Field). So that means that the free Thursday concerts that now cost $5, you will have to pay $8 for parking.
What these new regulations WILL DO is negatively impact retail businesses downtown including theater, dining, movies, bars and concerts. Buffalo should be encouraging people to come downtown, not create MORE barriers.
Voice your Viewpoint –Sign the petition and call Kevin Heifer, Parking Commissioner, phone 851-5182
