SLO just rolled out its new gateless parking structure system. Here’s how to use it
The city of San Luis Obispo has officially rolled out a new gateless parking system at one of its downtown structures — much to the chagrin of some confused patrons.
On Friday, a handful of folks gathered at the pay stations installed throughout the Palm Street structure, attempting to make sense of the new system that replaced the more traditional ticketed system this month.
“Well, it’s confusing,” Dana Humphreys said as she waited to pay. “I’m not technical. I held on to my flip phone for I can’t tell you how long. So this is like ‘Oh my god.’”
Meanwhile, across the street, a sign in the window of the Palm Theatre box office proclaimed, “We hate the parking too! Don’t complain to us! Complain to the city!”
Gilbert Estrada, a city parking maintenance worker, was on hand Friday answering questions from people attempting to park in the garage.
Estrada said the new system has definitely been a change for some, but ultimately it will help improve parking services downtown.
“At first it’s gonna take some getting used to, but in the long run, it’s going to be a lot better,” Estrada said.
How does gateless entry work at SLO parking garage?
The new gateless system replaces the old ticketing system, and is meant to speed up entry and exits at the frequently backlogged downtown structure.
So how does it work?
Drivers enter into the now gateless Palm Street structure and park in any of the available spots. Upon entry, a camera snaps a picture of your car’s license plate, creating a log of when you entered.
From there you have two options: either pay for your parking via an app, or go to one of the pay stations located near the stairs throughout the structure.
For both options, you’ll select how long you plan to stay, and pay for the amount up front, rather than as you leave like in the old system.
Paying using one of the several available mobile apps — ParkMobile, Park Smarter, Honk or Pay By Phone — means you can also add more time from your phone if your session runs out.
This transforms the structure into essentially metered spaces, much like street parking, where you choose and pay for a certain amount of time up front.
“If you already park (on the street) downtown, it’s the same thing,” parking representative Luis Leon told The Tribune. “It’s just in the structure.”
Drivers must pay for their parking within 15 minutes of entering. If paying at the pay station, you’ll also need to have your license plate number on hand.
When you leave, a camera at the exit will snap another photo of your license plate, and log in the system how long you were there for, checking it against your payment.
Like with metered street parking, those without an active parking session or who leave without paying the appropriate amount will be cited.
The change also means rates apply 24/7, and you won’t be able to leave the parking structure after hours without having to pay.
What about the free hour permit for locals?
The switch to gateless entry also coincides with the city increasing its downtown parking rates, and doing away with the long-standing free first hour of parking in structures.
But following some pushback from residents, the city decided to launch a special pilot program: Starting July 1, local residents who sign up for the Park Local Program can still get that free hour, as long as they sign up for a permit with the city.
Because the permit is tied to your license plate number, those with it can enter and park in the structure for up to one hour without having to do anything, Leon said.
If you plan to stay longer, however, you’ll need to pay for however many hours you plan to be downtown.
So for example, if you have the free hour permit, and you want to stay downtown for three hours, you’ll still need to pay for two hours in the app or at the pay station.
That third hour will be automatically recognized thanks to your registered license plate, Leon said.
For more information on how to sign up for the local permit, visit slocity.org/government/department-directory/public-works/parking-services/park-local-pilot-program.
City plans to roll out gateless entry to other SLO garages
The city began installing the new gateless system infrastructure at the Palm Street structure in mid-June, but on Monday fully rolled-out the technology and began using the apps, Leon said.
It has definitely been an adjustment for some drivers, he noted, but ultimately it’s meant to help rather than hinder parking downtown.
“It’s for the better of the city,” Leon said.
Right now, the city is calling it a “soft transition,” he said, with no enforcement while people get used to the new system. That will likely change in the near future, he added.
Meanwhile, the city plans to roll out gateless technology to every structure downtown by 2024, according to a FAQ sheet provided to The Tribune.
For more information on parking downtown, or if you have any questions about the changes, contact the city office by phone at 805-781-7230 or email parkinginfo@slocity.org
How do you feel about the changes to parking downtown?
The Tribune wants to know how you feel about the change to gateless technology at the Palm Street structure.
Fill out the form below with your comments and questions about the change, or go to this link here.
Comments can also be sent to reporter Kaytlyn Leslie at kleslie@thetribunenews.com.
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