Augusta leaders take another look at downtown paid parking

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta commissioners this week took a first step toward potentially bringing paid parking downtown, approving the hiring of a parking management firm to study the idea.

It is not the first time the city has considered a paid parking plan.

In 2015, the idea drew opposition from downtown business owners, and commissioners backed off, according to prior reporting.

In 2019, prior reporting showed a private company proposed a system with $1.375 million in costs and $1.3 million in projected revenue. That raised concerns that if parking did not generate enough money, taxpayers would cover the shortfall.

This week’s vote to hire a firm launches a new look at paid parking, but key questions remain, including whether it will work, who would pay if it does not and whether downtown business owners support it.

On Thursday, we’re talking to downtown business owners and people who live downtown to see what their thoughts are.

We’ll also look at how other Georgia cities — including Athens, Macon and Savannah — handle paid parking and what safeguards those systems have in place.