To Meters: So Long, Farewell; To Drivers: Don’t Worry, Be Happy

You won’t need this unless you overstay your welcome. The new parking plan goes in effect on May 14.

DOWNTOWN AURORA – Aurora’s much-anticipated “meterless” downtown parking plan goes into effect on Tuesday, May 14.

The City has removed an estimated 900 parking meters along downtown streets and in parking lots and will institute a color coded system for on-street and surface lot parking which carry different time limits that visitors and residents can park their vehicles at no charge.  The new parking plan is designed to assure more equitable parking opportunities for businesses and patrons and allows them to choose their most convenient option depending on the time they spend downtown.

Parking spaces closer to the heart of downtown will carry shorter parking limits so customers with short-term errands can locate convenient parking any time of the day.  On-street parking spaces are separated into five color-coded categories: platinum, gold, silver, bronze and mercury.  The City’s lots carry the same colors with the exception of platinum which apply only to on-street spaces in the center of downtown that carry a time limit of 90 minutes.

Parking spaces designated as “gold” allow parking for two hours both on-street and in surface lots; silver spaces are two hours on-street and three hours in lots; bronze spaces allow for three hours on-street and six hours in lots; and mercury spaces are five hours on-street and 10 hours in parking lots.  Motorists should look for signs placed along downtown streets and in parking lots indicating the particular parking color category.

On-Street parking is enforced from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday-Friday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.  Parking lots are monitored from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday.

Those who live, work, or frequently visit downtown Aurora are encouraged to take advantage of the City’s parking permit program which allows all day parking in parking lots of a person’s choice.  Aside from parking privileges in the color of the lot for which a permit is purchased, patrons can also park in lower-hierarchy lots.  For example, a gold parking permit also allows parking in any color lot; silver parking permits also allow parking in bronze and mercury lots; and bronze permits also allow parking in mercury lots.  Parking permits are not valid for on-street parking.

Complete information on the new parking plan can be found on the City’s website at www.aurora-il.org or by calling the Customer Service Division at (630) 256-INFO (4636).

Editor’s note: The above is a press release emailed by the city of Aurora on May 10, 2013. Also, to avoid any confusion, please bike downtown and leave your car at home.