Raleigh Mayor Wants To Get Rid Of Downtown Parking Meters

Now, the mayor of Raleigh wants to do away with one aspect that makes parking difficult.

Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker wants to do away with all of the nearly 600 parking meters in downtown.

Meeker's plan comes a year after the city raised the price of parking on meters from 25 cents to 50 cents.

Some people who visit downtown Raleigh don't have change for the meters, so Meeker's plan would provide more flexibility for those without coins.

"It's small, but one of the things that can make downtown more friendly, easy to come here, you don't have to worry about bringing a few quarters along," Meeker said.

Downtown patrons who pay often think it's a great idea.

Of course, the revenue from all these meters would have to be made up elsewhere -- that's why not everyone agrees this is a great idea.

To make up the money, Meeker suggests higher parking ticket prices or a hike in city parking deck rates.

With a transportation bond and other expenses proposed in the upcoming budget, some say now may not be the time to let meters expire.

"We have a lot of fee increases in that budget," said Philip Isley, a Raleigh city councilman.

If the idea goes through, the parking spots would still be patrolled to make sure one person isn't parking in them all day.

More discussion on the mayor's proposal is expected during budget workshops in June.