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Frequently Asked Questions
There are a lot of changes going on in Downtown Redwood City right now, and there is quite a bit of speculation about how parking will be affected. Here are the answers to the most common questions that we hear...
Q: Are you crazy? Why did you change everything?
A: As you may have noticed, Downtown Redwood City has changed quite a bit over the past few years. We knew that adding a new cinema, new restaurants, new shops, a new plaza, and a bunch of special events would bring a lot more people competing for parking spaces. Back in the "Deadwood City" days people complained about parking being too congested, so we wanted to be proactive and try to improve the parking crunch in the face of all of the new development. We created a big, comprehensive, far-reaching plan. Click here to check it out.
Q: Why did you upgrade to the new meters?
A: We held a series of workshops with the Downtown community and discovered that the old meters were considered inconvenient and unattractive by many people. The new meters were selected to reduce sidewalk clutter, to add payment options (bills, credit cards, etc), and to allow people to add more time without walking all the way back to their car, among other benefits. Over 1,000 people a day take advantage of the new credit card and bill payment options and about 15,000 successful transactions are completed every single week. Click here for tips on how to use them.
Q: Why is all of the parking $0.75 per hour?
A: It isn't. only about 5% of the parking costs $0.75 per hour, mainly along Broadway. The rest is $0.50, $0.25, or free. Click here for a price map.
Q: Why are some areas (such as Broadway) more expensive than others?
A: To ensure that you can park there. We found that if very desirable areas are priced the same as areas further away (or if the curbside parking is more expensive than garage parking), they get too crowded and don't turn over, forcing you to circle the block over and over or park further away than you want to. By pricing the best parking spaces higher we can make sure that there is usually a space when and where you want it. And if you want a bargain, there is always less expensive parking close by. Click here for a price map. Click here to learn how effective pricing creates open spaces in prime areas and creates other benefits.
Q: Why do I have to pay for a whole hour even if I'm just making a quick visit?
A: You don't. All meters, new and old, take all coins except pennies. If you only need a few minutes, simply pop in a nickel or a dime.
Q: Do I have to stand in line to use the new meters?
A: No. You can pay for any numbered space at any of the new meters, so if there is a line, simply go to the next machine that is on the way to your destination. Or, you can pay by phone!
Q: Why do I have to put my receipt on my dash?
A: You don't. The receipt is just for your convenience. It shows your expiration time, so you no longer need to wonder "when does my meter expire?" It is also handy for adding time if you need to extend your visit.
Q: Do the new meters give change?
A: No. If you put a dollar bill in, you will get a dollar's worth of parking. There are no refunds and no change, just like the old meters.
Q: How do you enforce the new meters?
A: The parking enforcement officers print a report at each meter that shows which stalls are paid for and which aren't. If an expired stall has a car in it, a citation will be issued.
Q: Has removing time limits caused parking to get crowded?
A: No. Because of our innovative rate structure, the most desirable parking areas are turning over better than ever, despite the removal of the time limits. (Click here to learn why it works). So now you can park where you want and stay as long as you'd like without worry. Need more time? Just add more. We won't chalk your tires and force you to move your car.
Q: There's no more free parking, right?
A: Wrong! At night and on the weekends the whole outer area of Downtown (Marshall Street and beyond) will be free. This is only a block or two from the action. All in all, only about 20% of the available Downtown public parking supply will be paid parking on evenings and weekends, about 30% will be free for 1 to 4 hours with a validation, and nearly 50% will be completely FREE, no strings attached! Click here for a map of free parking.
Q: Why isn't there enough parking in the Downtown area?
A: There is enough! We've studied this issue inside and out, and we have found that there always has been and still will be enough parking Downtown. And we have a plan in place to ensure that we continue to have enough parking as we grow. Best of all, our pricing strategy keeps a few spaces open even in prime areas, so that you don't have to circle around Broadway all night looking for a space if that's where you want to park.
Q: The City meters parking to make money, right?
A: No. Parking meters are the most effective way to make sure that parking spaces "turn over" so that parking areas don't get congested. This ensures that as many people as possible get a chance to park. In a lively, compact, walkable area like Downtown Redwood City you have to meter parking in order to keep things working. What are the alternatives?
- Allow your parking to be hopelessly congested and just deal with it--that's no fun for anyone!
- Strictly enforce tight time limits--this is very frustrating for parkers and results in a lot of parking tickets.
- Create a surplus of parking spaces--this is far too expensive and would thin Downtown out to the point where it is no longer a nice place to go. We don't want to turn Downtown into a strip mall!
In addition to effective parking management, there is another benefit to metering our parking. Instead of being a huge financial drain on the City, Downtown's parking supply pays for itself and also will eventually generate money to pay for other things that Downtown needs, such as extra security and extra sidewalk cleaning. All meter money stays Downtown and is used to make it a nicer place.
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