DELRAY ADDS METERS

Now you’ll have to pay to park along popular streets downtown

If you’re going to dine at some spots in downtown Delray Beach, be prepared to start paying for parking.

Twenty-three smart parking meters went live at noon Monday along Atlantic Avenue, from Swinton Avenue to the Intracoastal bridge, and some side streets.

Metered parking will be $2 an hour with a three-hour maximum. Paid hours will be noon to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and noon to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday for late-night bar customers.

Warnings will be issued initially, “giving everyone time to acclimate to the new paid parking program,” said Susan Goebel-Canning, public works director. “The first 30 days is a learning period for users,” she said.

Enforcement will be handled by the city’s parking partner Lanier Park Solu-

tions. “We’re being customer-friendly and helping people use the technology and download the app,” said Jorge Alarcon, chief parking administrator.

Those parking could use the ParkMobile app, which can be downloaded to smartphone devices. The app lets you pay by credit card. “For those who use the app, they will receive a notice that their time is about to expire, providing them opportunity to meet parking requirements,” Goebel-Canning said.

For those not using the app, they can pay by cash or credit card at the meter.

City police can also write tickets but are not really involved with the new meters, said Dani Moschella, spokeswoman for the Delray Beach Police Department. When the meters were approved June 5, the city was given 90 days to come up with a plan or resident permits. Employees were expected to find parking at the city’s open parking lots and garages, rather than take a space on the street.

There are no meters, but time-limited signs along Atlantic Avenue from the east side of the Intracoastal bridge to the beach. But there are meters along State Road A1A from George Bush Boulevard to Cascuarina Road, which still charge $1.50 an hour, Alarcon said.

Mayor Shelly Petrolia is taking a wait-and-see position. Although the city will get extra revenue from the meters, “my biggest fear is, will the benefits outweigh the negatives?” Petrolia said.

AMY BETH BENNETT/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Dwayne Bryan, of Lanier Parking Solutions, hands information to a driver about the new parking meters on Atlantic.