(Every week we republish one article from the City Manager’s weekly update to staff. This week’s article has been lightly updated because it was written in the future tense.)
Yesterday, Monday, April 13, new parking rates are in effect at all downtown parking structures (PS 1–9 and the Ken Edwards Center), along with two new pilot validation programs for fitness / wellness businesses and schools, all of which was approved by the City Council on March 24 as part of the Realignment Plan Update.
The new rates represent a meaningful recalibration from the structure that took effect in January, when a citywide rate overhaul reduced the initial free parking period in downtown structures from 90 minutes to 30 minutes. After hearing community and business feedback, the City Council acted in March to extend the initial discounted window back to 90 minutes at just $1, a change designed to keep downtown accessible and encourage visitors to stay, shop, and dine.
Rates increase at the 3-hour and 5-hour marks, with slight differences between weekday and weekend pricing and between the core downtown structures (PS 1, 2, 4–8, and KEC) and Structure 9, which carries lower rates across the board. The updated rate structure is outlined in the charts below.
Two new pilot validation programs also launched yesterday. The Fitness and Wellness Validation Pilot provides 90-minute validations at just $0.25 (a 75% discount), with free validations above 4,000 per month ($1,000 worth), and also a free City-provided validation machine for participating businesses during the 12-month pilot period.
The School Validation Pilot applies to three downtown schools and early childcare facilities and provides free 30-minute validations for student drop-off and pick-up, plus a free validation machine.
Staff has worked with Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. to inform fitness and wellness businesses, and interested businesses will be contacted to coordinate machine installation.
Looking ahead, a future spend-based validation program geared toward retail and restaurant businesses is being developed by City staff in coordination with DTSM, another step in making downtown parking a tool for economic vitality rather than a barrier to it.
Signage is up in the structures and the Parking Division website has been updated with the new rate details.
Great work by our Parking team to get these new rates implemented, and we’ll be sure to monitor and report on all of the new parking rate structures as the program takes hold!
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