Photo by billadlerThe District Department of Transportation today released more details on the changes scheduled to take effect this month in the city’s parking meter system. The District is set to begin enforcing parking meter payment requirements on Saturdays for the first time beginning on or around January 16.
Crews are now working to update the more than 100,000 parking regulatory signs and nearly 17,000 meters to reflect this change in city law. Note that enforcement begins once the signage is changed — so if you happen to park at a meter that still says Saturdays are free, you can technically park there for free up until the day the city gets to that meter. DDOT doesn’t expect to reach every single meter before January 19, so the first weekend could still see sections of the city without new signage.
After the change is complete, the District will be split between two different kinds of parking meter zones:
>> Premium Demand zones, in the busiest commercial districts (read: most of the city), will all cost $2 per hour to park.
>> A few rare neighborhoods that have been deemed to be in lower demand will cost 75 cents per hour to park.
Hours of enforcement are also changing, with nighttime enforcement extended to 10 p.m. in the following “premium demand zones:”
* Adams Morgan
* Georgetown Historic District
* Penn Quarter/Chinatown
* U Street NW Corridor
* Downtown Central Business District
* Maine Ave. and Water St. SW
* The National Mall
* Wisconsin Avenue NW (from Van Ness Street to Western Avenue)
Bottom line: don’t assume anything about the existing rules when you park at a meter. Always check the signage to make sure you’re in compliance.
