Free parking could end as Indianapolis considers extending meter hours on nights, weekends

It could soon become impossible to find free parking for a night out in Downtown Indianapolis.

The City-County Council's Democratic leadership on Monday introduced a proposal that would standardize parking meter hours across the city and extend the enforcement hours on nights and weekends. The proposal would effectively eliminate free parking during popular event times in areas including Downtown and Broad Ripple.

The additional money from the city's 3,800 metered spots would be split between two new programs recently introduced by Mayor Joe Hogsett: a $2 million street-sweeping initiative that will regularly clean 7,300 lane miles and a $500,000 plan to address panhandling.

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Under the current ordinance, Indianapolis stops enforcing all parking meters by 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and Sundays are free. That enables savvy drivers to score free parking for, say, a late night out on Massachusetts Avenue or at least a portion of an Indiana Pacers game.

Free parking is even easier to find in less populated areas of the city. Indianapolis divides meter enforcement into four zones, with Downtown and Broad Ripple operating on the longest hours. Meter enforcement ends as early as 6 p.m. in much of the city.

But the proposed changes, introduced by Council President Vop Osili and Vice President Zach Adamson, would extend enforcement at all meters until 11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and add enforcement from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays.

Adamson, who chairs the Public Works Committee, which will review the proposal, said changes are likely to be made before the council votes on it.

"I think we will see some extended hours," Adamson said. "To 11 o'clock, I'm not sure. I'm not sure everyone feels comfortable with Sunday, either. It's very possible there will be revisions yet through the committee process."

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Michael McQuillen, the council's Republican minority leader, said in an interview he has yet to thoroughly review the proposed changes. At first glance, though, he said extended meter enforcement looks like a good way for the city to pay for a new panhandling initiative, which has been one of McQuillen's top priorities in recent months.

The Department of Public Works could not immediately provide an estimate on how much money the city expects to gain through extended meter hours. Meters generated  $3.9 million in 2017 and $3.7 million in both 2016 and 2015.

Extended parking meter enforcement hours isn't the only potential change that could annoy Downtown motorists. The council also will consider a separate policy that would reduce the Downtown speed limit and ban right turns on red lights.

That proposal, also introduced by Osili and Adamson, would set 25 miles per hour as the speed limit on all streets bounded by 11th Street, 10th Street, White River Parkway West Drive, Interstate 70 and Interstate 65.

Reducing speeds in some areas, while also making it illegal to turn right on red lights, is intended to improve safety Downtown.

Call IndyStar reporter James Briggs at 317-444-6307. Follow him on Twitter: @JamesEBriggs.