You know the awful feeling you get when you wake up suddenly, remembering "Oh my gosh. I left my car parked downtown last night" (ahem, for whatever reason, pink-raincoat-wearing cowgirls at Molly's included...) and it's already way past that special time in the morning that the parking ticketers have done a clean sweep along Postoffice Street leaving a trail of those horrible bright green little envelopes in their wake?? Well, since Ike hit nearly a year ago, we've become quite complacent NOT having to worry about getting ticketed as the parking meters all "ate it" in the flood and paid parking on the streets hasn't been enforced.
The free-for-all style parking system we've been enduring these past 10 months has had its ups and downs. Yes, it's fantastic to park for free - and not worry about getting ticketed. BUT, as much as I disliked getting ticketed or having to pay to park, I realize, especially now, that the need for a parking system - whatever that might be - is obvious.
Folks that work downtown, live downtown, operate businesses downtown, and visit downtown are all vying for the same parking spots, and for some folks, once gotten, spaces are often un-relinquished for up to 8 hours or more.
Well, city council has voted and the new meters are coming... The Downtown Galveston Strand Seaport Partnership expects them to be installed downtown within the next 6-8 weeks - the GDN expects that it could take "several months". Don't hold your breath though - you know how these things tend to go - everyone spell with me: D-E-L-A-Y. AMPCO is the new company who'll be installing, maintaining and whatever else-ing the new meters and it'd be up to them and the City whenever the meters actually go in...
Although I was under the impression that the downtown might have access to free Wi-Fi with these meters, the GDN reported today that they will not. That stinks - let's hope that's inaccurate.
Beware; they say paid parking will also be enforced on Sundays...
