The conversion of the trendy South Congress strip to paid parking has led to more than $1 million in revenue for the city in its first nine months of operation, per data obtained by Axios through state open records laws.
Why it matters: As Austin continues to expand paid parking outside of downtown, the city is collecting more money from those parking spots for pedestrian projects and other improvements.
Flashback: The city introduced paid parking in the area last fall as part of a broader solution to the area’s parking challenges, which included merchants complaining that spots weren’t opening fast enough for customers.
How it works: Some areas around South Congress are exclusively paid parking for visitors, while others are shared with residents or employees of businesses in the district.
By the numbers: The city collected nearly $775,000 in parking fees between Sept. 1 and May 31, according to city data.
- The busiest months were March, April, and May when fees totaled more than $100,000 each month.