1 week ago
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Big changes are coming this week to paid parking in Balboa Park, including “free parking” passes for city residents, expanded signage about new lot-specific rules and an information hotline to help confused residents.
City officials plan to announce those changes Thursday and also reveal that no citations will be written until March 16 despite the new rules taking effect Monday.
No action will be taken against illegally parked cars next week, when the city plans to focus on education by having employees on-site to help anyone confused. During the week of March 9, written warnings will be issued, but no fines.
While paid parking has been in effect since Jan. 5, there hasn’t been any enforcement. Despite that, the city has pulled in more than $1 million in revenue from purchases of day passes and long-term permits.
Other changes taking effect Monday include ending daily enforcement at 6 p.m. instead of 8 p.m., expanding parking for workers and volunteers and allowing drivers with blue disabled placards to park for free anywhere in the park.
The changes aim to soften the impact of the highly controversial paid parking program and correct course after its rollout drew nearly universal criticism as disorganized, confusing and poorly planned.
The biggest change is the introduction of “free par...
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