Kansas City Introduces New Event Parking Fees: What You Need to Know
In a move that’s certainly turning heads, Kansas City has rolled out a new event parking policy that could cost drivers up to $40 to park in metered spaces during nearby events. Yes, you read that right! Even if you’re not attending an event, you might find yourself footing the bill for these hefty parking fees if you’re in certain areas of the city.
The Policy at a Glance
The City Council approved this parking policy during a meeting on June 27, where it was passed unanimously at 12-0 without a single discussion. Councilmember Andrea Bough was the only member absent during the vote. So, what does this mean for you, the everyday parkers?
Whenever there’s a major event happening in areas like downtown, the Crossroads, or the River Market, these new fees will apply. The director of the public works department gets to define these “event parking zones” and will have the ability to declare specific times and rates associated with events.
How Will It Work?
You might be wondering how you’ll find out if these new event parking rates are in effect when you’re looking for a place to park. During a recent city committee meeting, Councilmember Johnathan Duncan raised this concern, pointing out that he’d only discover the costs after parking—potentially leading to quite the sticker shock.
Matthew Muckenthaler, the city’s parking program manager, shared that people can find the updated parking rates either by checking the meter itself, using the Park KC app, or paying by text at nearby kiosks. It sounds convenient, but that doesn’t quite solve the surprise factor for drivers arriving in the area.
Informing the Public
Currently, the city has placed additional signs in these parking zones that declare, “This zone is subject to event-based pricing.” This does help, but it doesn’t entirely alleviate the confusion about when the fees kick in before an event. Business owners and residents in affected areas are keen to know how the city plans to support them, particularly when they aren’t attending events and yet are still subjected to the higher fees.
Suggestions and Clarifications
During the discussion, there were suggestions from council members on improving public notifications. Eric Bunch floated the idea of issuing push notifications through the Park KC app to alert users when event pricing is active. Muckenthaler seemed open to exploring this option, but specifics about whether these improvements have been implemented remain unclear.
Education and Enforcement
The city is stating that they will take an educational approach to help inform the public about the new regulations. This method mirrors the way they handled the decriminalization of parking regulations previously. Muckenthaler mentioned that during the initial phase, they may focus on handing out warnings rather than strict enforcement.
However, no one really knows when this education period will finish and when they’ll start cracking down on violations. Lack of clarity might leave many wondering if they should risk parking in these zones, especially if they’re unfamiliar with the space.
Final Thoughts
For now, Kansas City residents and visitors alike will need to stay alert, keep their eyes peeled for new signs, and perhaps download that Park KC app sooner rather than later. As the city gears up for whatever events the future holds, being informed is key to avoiding the potential sting of unexpected parking fees. Stay tuned, Kansas City; it looks like parking is about to get a lot more interesting!
