Tucson Expands Downtown Parking Meter Hours: Now Until 7 PM and Saturdays!

Tucson’s parking landscape is set for changes as the city announces a shift in paid parking hours. Starting June 2, parking meters will require payment from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. This decision comes from the Department of Transportation and Mobility, seeking to enhance parking accessibility in busy areas.

The previous paid parking schedule, which ran from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, will be expanded to include Saturdays. Affected zones include Downtown, Mercado, and Main Gate Square/University districts. Notably, Fourth Avenue will maintain its current hours during nearby construction, with future adjustments to be determined post-renovation.

City officials stated that the new hours aim to boost parking availability and generate additional revenue, projected at $460,000 annually. Erica Frazelle, a spokesperson for TDOT, mentioned that new signage would be created in-house, minimizing costs associated with this update.

The proposal for extended hours was put forth in October, following a public feedback period that validated community interest in the changes. Importantly, parking rates remain at $1 per hour, with time limits unchanged, ranging from half an hour to six hours. The penalty for expired meter violations is set at $42.