Locals and visitors alike will soon pay for parking in all municipal parking spots and lots in downtown Taos, bringing an end to an era in which those in the know parked in front of one of the town's many broken meters to avoid paying the fee, or parked in one of the town's free lots.
"The Town of Taos is modernizing its paid parking infrastructure by installing new meters and payment kiosks in June," according to a Friday (May 24) press release.
The change will upgrade the 284 existing paid parking spots and convert 209 free parking locations into paid parking for a total of 493 paid parking locations. A new parking fee structure will be introduced when the new parking system goes live in June.
“The current coin-operated system was installed in the late 1980s and 75 percent of the system doesn’t work," said John Rodriguez, the town's community relations director. "The Town is installing a modern pay-to-park system similar to what residents and visitors encounter in Santa Fe and Albuquerque. The coin-operated meters served their purpose, and while there is a certain charm in putting a quarter in the slot to pay for parking, the town has to move into the future.”
Not all municipalities charge for parking. Drivers who visit the Town of Silver City's historic downtown, for example, don't pay a dime. Nestled in the Gila National Forest with a population similar to Taos, the southwest New Mexico tourist town rid itself of meters years ago after concluding, in part, that the cost of maintenance and enforcement — and the bummers parking tickets laid on tourists — outweighed the benefits of metered parking. Taos officials have been eagerly anticipating a parking revenue boom that could assist with infrastructure upkeep and amenities, and generally boost the municipality's budget.
During the week of June 5, parking kiosks will be installed, according to the press release. An additional 50 signs will be installed directing customers on how to pay by phone. Public Works are installing the new system from now until June 10th. The town had already dismantled nearly 80 percent of the old meters by the start of the Memorial Day Weekend.
Users will be able to pay either through cash or credit card at one of the 15 parking kiosks located around town, or through an app, which they will be able to download by scanning a QR code and be directed to a payment processing system.
On June 10, the paid parking system is planned to go live across all parking lots. But the full implementation schedule could change.
Additionally, to make it easier for RVs and large vehicles to park, there will be an option for full-day parking rates without the hassle of drivers constantly checking their parking meter.
Because such a high percentage of meters displayed "Fail" or otherwise did not function over the past several years, parking meter enforcement was virtually non-existent in recent years. That will also change in June, according to the release.
To track and monitor those who haven’t paid for parking, a parking patrol officer will be able to quickly scan license plates from an all-electric F150 Ford Lightning without having to leave their vehicle. This creates a safe working environment for the officer, who can remain in their vehicle while quickly monitoring the parking lots in an environmentally friendly vehicle, according to the press release.
The parking lots that will move from free to paid parking include: Loretto Parking Lot next to Our Lady of Guadalupe Church on Camino de la Placita; Couse Pasture Parking Lot on Kit Carson Road; McCarthy Parking Lot on the east side of Paseo del Pueblo Norte; and the Bedford Lane Parking Lot.
“With the removal of the parking meters, the Town is beautifying our historic downtown with a simpler and easier way to pay for parking,” Rodriguez said. “And our goal is for the new system to help pay for parking infrastructure improvements.”
New parking rates will be discussed at a future Town of Taos Council meeting.
Paid parking will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and Sundays will remain free to park. During special events, the town is evaluating a special all-day parking fee to manage the demand during designated events. During special events, Town Hall and Library Parking will convert into paid parking lots.
The town will keep 250 free parking spaces inside Kit Carson Park, at Town Hall, and along Quesnel Street.
Via Taos News