MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — An ordinance raising rates and fines for some of Morgantown’s downtown parking passed unanimously at Tuesday’s Morgantown City Council meeting.
The proposed “Downtown Street Parking Zone” where the higher rates and two-hour time limit would apply includes:
– High Street, Willey to Foundry
– Fayette Street, High to Spruce
– Court Street, High to Chestnut
– Foundry Street, High to University
– Chestnut Street, Foundry to Willey
– Walnut Street, Spruce to Chestnut
The spaces along those streets make up one percent of all of downtown city parking.
The parking rate in those spaces will increase from 50 cents an hour to $1.00 an hour. Drivers can still opt to pay less than a dollar for less time on the meter.
A two hour limit is placed on those spaces. The parking authority can issue $5.00 expired meter fines for drivers who violate the time limit. Repeat offenders will be subject to higher fines. The new ordinance sets a first fine at $20.00. Additional fines within the same year could be as high as $100.00.
With council’s approval, the Morgantown Parking Authority can finalize standard operating procedures for administering warnings and fines.
According to the authority’s executive director, Tom Arnold, the goal is to eliminate “campers” who park 4 to 6 hours at a time in those spaces. Business owners, their employees, downtown residents and commuting WVU students are accused of taking spaces that could be available for city visitors and shoppers.
Arnold has repeatedly said turnover in a single space can be six times in an hour. He said a single space can open the door to $400 in downtown commerce each day.