COLUMBUS, Ohio — Starting in February, meters in the downtown area hope to make parking and traffic run a bit smoother.
The Columbus Department of Public Service says it's to help make parking better with more accessible options and help make parking more predictable.
But is that enough to help people who say parking is a nightmare?
"I'd say no," DaShawn Mattox said.
"Absolutely not," Terri Jackson said.
Jackson and Mattox have worked downtown for the last 19 years. They say it's not fair for those who work downtown having to pay for limited parking, while on top of that paying taxes for working in the city.
"Then, you turn around and have to pay outrageous rates to park to just go to work," Jackson said.
For 19 years, Monday through Friday, eight hours a day, Jackson and Mattox say they spend about $7 per day on parking. In a year, that's about $1,300.
They've also considered bus transportation as well as local garages and lots.
"Those options are out there for people that can use those options," Jackson said. "I have a young child. I need to drive. I need to be able to have access if an emergency comes at home. I need to be able to get to my child."
"You may find a cheaper lot, but even with getting a discounted price to park in the garages and such, their wait list is 18 months," Mattox said.
Starting in February, the city will be utilizing no time limit meters with rates of 50 cents an hour on the outskirts of downtown, three-hour meters will have a $1 an hour rate and 30-minute meters will carry a one hour cost of $1.50.
"We have limited parking as it is," Mattox said. "So, going up on rates of the meters is just making it more difficult to park to come to work."
The city is interested in hearing from the public about what drivers like and dislike about the parking situation in the downtown area. Many meters have information on them directing people to an online survey. People can also use their phones to scan the QR code, which takes you directly to the survey.
"Honestly, until you approached me, this is the first time I've heard of [the survey]," Mattox said.
The Department of Public Service says the survey is critical for advice and changes including rates and adjustments will not be finalized on the new plans until after Jan. 1, 2020.
The city also plans on using the ParkColumbus app to allow drivers to pay for meters, as well as on-street spaces, according to the Department of Public Service.