Padres fans, expect to pay more to park on the street near Petco Park starting next month.<\/p>\n
This week, city crews are installing around 400 signs on curbs downtown to let drivers know about the new parking-meter rates taking effect Sept. 1.<\/p>\n
Parking won\u2019t always cost extra in the new so-called special event zone. But the hourly rate will rise to $10 an hour starting two hours before a big event at the stadium is set to begin, and will remain $10 an hour for the next six hours.<\/p>\n
The changes come after the City Council voted two months ago to approve<\/a> a sweeping package of new parking rules that included the $10-an-hour meters near Petco, along with paid parking on Sundays and more meters citywide.<\/p>\n Also included in that package, officials say, is another change coming this summer: parking meter hours around the city will be extended by at least two hours later this month.<\/p>\n And earlier this year, the city also doubled<\/a> parking meter rates citywide to $2.50 an hour in most places.<\/p>\n The quadrupled meter rates near Petco Park during Padres games and concerts are just the first step in a new effort by the city to introduce demand-based variable pricing in areas where parking is in high demand.<\/p>\n The zone where the special pricing will likely apply for now is bounded by Broadway to the north, State Street to the west, Interstate 5 to the east and Harbor Drive and 16th Street to the south.<\/p>\n The demand-variable parking rate policy change the council approved in June allows the city to charge as much as $20 an hour, but officials are starting with $10.<\/p>\n Petco Park isn\u2019t the only popular San Diego destination where parking could soon get much more expensive. Last week, council members debated<\/a> a comprehensive plan to begin charging drivers to park in Balboa Park.<\/p>\n Collectively, the changes aim to help the city raise tens of millions of dollars.<\/p>\n