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Saugerties is nearing a transition from traditional parking meters to an app-based system. The Village Board is working on logistics to implement the ParkMobile app, which would allow residents and visitors to pay for parking via their phones. This change aims to boost revenue and fund the addition of 30 parking slots to the Partition Street lot.
During a recent meeting, officials discussed the benefits of the app, such as increased convenience and the ability to extend parking time remotely. The app also offers a 45-cent surcharge per use, which would be added to the village's parking fees. Mayor Bill Murphy mentioned plans to offer village residents reduced fees through a one-time annual permit.
The app-based system is expected to make parking management more efficient, with features like parking zone differentiation and real-time notifications for expired parking. The current metered slots generated $39,000 in 2023, falling short of the $51,000 budget expectation. The new system is seen as a way to address this shortfall and cover the estimated $65,000 paving costs and $12,000 annual lease fees for the new slots.
The village is also considering extending paid parking hours from the current 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, potentially extending to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The app will allow users to pay via a phone call or QR code without downloading the app, making the transition smoother for all users.