Affordable Parking Program to the rescue

Has this ever happened to you? You have to be at work in 10 minutes, so you hop in your car and rush downtown – only to circle the block a dozen times because you can’t find a parking place near your job. If you work downtown in the evenings, you should consider signing up for the Affordable Parking Program, a brainstorm from the city of Austin and the Downtown Austin Alliance intended to make life easier – and more economical – for Austin’s service and entertainment industry employees. The program, which began with a single garage and a few users, now comprises two dozen parking garages across downtown and more than 200 users. You can park your car at monthly rates ranging from $30 to $65, starting as early as 3 p.m., and you can leave your car parked as late as 7 a.m. during the week. Depending on the garage you sign up for, you can park for up to 24 hours during the weekend. Now the Affordable Parking Program is expanding beyond downtown to include UT and the Rainey Street District. The interactive map of parking garages includes all the info you need to sign up.