Drivers will need to make payment within 15 minutes of entering each facility
All three of the City of Sarasota’s parking garages — on Palm Avenue, State Street and St. Armands — “will go gateless” as of Tuesday, June 17, city staff is advising the public.
As of that day, the city’s May 16 newsletter pointed out, the entrance and exit gates in the three parking garages will remain in an upright position until they are removed.
An occupant of each vehicle will need to pay within 15 minutes of entering the garage by using a physical pay station, a mobile app (Passport, ParkMobile) or the text-to-pay method, the newsletter added.
The parking rates will remain the same, the newsletter said: The first hour is free, the fee for the second hour is $2, and the charge for the third hour and beyond is $1 per hour. “Event parking is a flat $5 fee,” with credit cards and coins — no dollar bills — accepted, the newsletter noted.
Parking is free in city garages on Sundays and on city-observed holidays, the newsletter reminded the public.
Further, the city’s May 16 newsletter noted, “garage parking enforcement hours will be extended from 7:30 a.m. until each garage closes.”
The hours of operation for each garage are as follows, the newsletter said:
- Palm Avenue and State Street — Monday through Thursday, from 7 a.m. to midnight; Friday and Saturday, 7 a.m. to 2 a.m.
- St. Armands — Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m. to midnight.
More information will be shared in the weeks leading up to the June 17 launch of the changes, the newsletter pointed out. In the meantime, anyone with questions is invited to reach out to the Parking Department by e-mailing ParkingInfo@sarasotafl.gov.