The City of Minneapolis is addressing a recent shift in the status quo for people who regularly park in downtown.
As more employees return to the office - including Target workers and some state employees - parking dynamics are noticeably changing. Many people who have worked downtown since the start of the pandemic may have noticed they were "getting away" without paying at meters. That time could be at an end.
The city's parking system manger Tim Drew says while it may seems like meter checks have increased, it may just be a sign that less spots are open around the city.
"As far as the enforcement goes, the number of people doing enforcing and what they're enforcing has remained consistent," says Drew. "It may be that there are more people parking because there is quite a few more people parking right now than there has been in the last few years."
Drew says above all drivers should be vigilant as rates vary by location and enforcement is consistent - especially with renewed weekday activity.
You're much more likely to find space to come by as well. Drew says if you work earlier or on slower days in the city, it make make your experience less of headache.
"Most of our meters start enforcement at 8:00," explains Drew. "Most of the time you can get those first three hours for free at the parking meters and at 5:00 a.m. a lot of the parking meters are open."
When you are coming downtown, you'll need to play close attention to what restrictions are on a particular meter. Rates, time limits and other restrictions vary across the city. They might even be different from one side of the street to the other.
Every meter has this information posted at the space and the city says make sure to read it. There are also event rates that may apply. That includes things at U.S. Bank Stadium, Huntington Bank Stadium, Target Field and the Minneapolis Convention Center.
The city has an interactive map of meters so you can plan your trip. The days of dropping quarters into a meter are also gone. There are pay stations on each street now where you can insert a credit card for payment, choose your time, etc. The city also has a mobile app to make paying from your phone easy as well.
Longtime downtown workers are also well-aware of free holiday parking. That includes this Thursday which is Juneteenth. New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Indigenous Peoples Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day (and the day after Thanksgiving), and Christmas Day are the other free holidays where meters are not enforced.
As always, they recommend anyone parking for an extended period of time find a parking ramp or surface lot instead - or consider taking public transportation as traffic downtown has increased significantly compared to the last few years.