Imagine paying only for the actual time you park in downtown Traverse City … down to the last second. And what if the cost for the convenience of paying by phone was cut in half?

These are just two changes coming to metered parking downtown as the city continues to work toward a better experience for visitors and employees.

The Ticker caught up with Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Parking Administrator Nicole VanNess for an update on the changes, how to find the best parking spot – and the easiest way to pay for it.

Meter times increased
In May, coinciding with the first rate increase in 11 years – from 60 cents to $1 per hour – the DDA also increased the time limits on the majority of downtown meters. The change came following user feedback that the standard two hours was not enough time and people were cutting their trips downtown short – or avoiding downtown altogether – to avoid tickets if they ran even a few minutes late.

The DDA has taken a zone approach, explains VanNess, starting from the parking “core” – considered from Boardman to Union and Front to State. Now, parkers will find 3-hour meters on all those blocks (not including lots). All the meters still offer 30 minutes free.

Looking for 4 hours? Head to S. Pine, West Front past the Fifth Third Bank building, or the 400 block of Lake Avenue.

VanNess says the meters alongside Grandview Parkway in the Farmers Market lot are now 10 hours after hearing from some downtown employees – particularly evening hospitality workers – that nightime shifts don’t warrant the cost of a $44 monthly parking permit when the meters are only enforced until 6pm. Meters elsewhere in the lot have four or two-hour limits.

Parkers will also find 10-hour meters on the 300 block of West Front, the 500 block of East Front and on Hall Street.

VanNess says the goal is to get the right mix of timed meters to meet the demands of visitors and employees. She adds that the meter needs in downtown’s Old Town district are still being evaluated.

All meters are enforced between 8am and 6pm, Monday through Saturday; free on Sundays and listed holidays.

Pay by app, card or coin
If you are one of the roughly 900 regular users of the Parkmobile mobile app downtown, know that in the coming months that app will be going away in favor of the Pango mobile parking app.

One big improvement: the new mobile app allows parkers to pay for actual usage by starting the transaction when they pull into a spot, and stopping it when they depart. One caveat: if someone parks in a 10-hour meter and only stays for three hours – but forgets to stop the transaction upon leaving – the app will charge the entire 10 hours.

Pango will also provide real-time data to enforcement workers out on the streets, according to VanNess, avoiding accidental citations that have been issued due to data delays with Parkmobile.

The DDA is planning a promotion (think “free meter time”) to encourage folks to take the few minutes to make the switch when the time comes. A more than 50 percent cut in the transaction fee – from 35 cent to 15 cents – is also expected to incentivize users for the minor inconvenience of downloading a new app and setting up a new account.

Not an app user? Coins are still accepted in the single-space meters and coins, cash or credit cards can be used at the pay stations in the metered lots. One problem with cash is the pay stations only accept one and five dollar bills and don't give change back; also, credit card usage requires a minimum of $1.