Augusta Moving to Paid Parking Post-Broad Street Construction

Augusta Commissioners greenlit plans on Friday to manage parking once Broad Street construction wraps up. Paid parking will arrive downtown.

City officials can now build a system that takes effect when crews haul away the orange barrels lining Broad Street. Downtown's getting spruced up, and visitors say they'll gladly fork over cash to park on the revamped street.

"I think it would be worthwhile. I think it will be good for the community. It shows that those who really care about downtown will pay to do it," Andrew Tarr said, according to WJFB.

Some want meters now. Free parking has been standard here for years, but that's about to flip.

Broad Street's been torn up as workers redo the downtown corridor. Crews have reshaped the entire thoroughfare from curb to curb, installing new infrastructure and smoothing out decades of wear.

No start date exists yet. Commissioners will wait until construction ends and staff iron out the kinks.

City brass have wrestled with mounting traffic and scarce parking as foot traffic surges downtown. This new approach tackles both problems head-on.

Georgia towns have rolled out comparable programs in their commercial districts. Revenue flows in while congestion drops.

The vote signals backing from elected leaders and regular citizens alike for what's coming. Others have voiced a similar willingness to accept fees if they boost what downtown offers.

Pricing remains unknown. So do hours, and how the city will crack down on scofflaws. Staff will hammer out those particulars as they assemble the complete blueprint.

Broad Street's overhaul sits within a sprawling effort to breathe fresh life into downtown Augusta's tired blocks and storefronts, drawing new shops and curious visitors who might stick around and spend money.