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The Village of Saugerties is preparing to launch a new parking app in its business district by June 1. The app, developed in partnership with ParkMobile, will allow residents and visitors to pay for parking using their cell phones while still offering the option to pay the existing meter rate of 25 cents per hour.
During a recent meeting, officials discussed the benefits of the app, which include increased convenience and the ability to extend parking time remotely. The app will also introduce a 45-cent surcharge per use. Mayor Bill Murphy mentioned plans to offer village residents reduced fees through a one-time annual permit.
The app-based system is expected to improve parking management with features like parking zone differentiation and real-time notifications for expired parking. The current metered slots generated $39,000 in 2023, which fell short of the $51,000 budget expectation. The new system aims to address this shortfall and cover the estimated $65,000 paving costs and $12,000 annual lease fees for 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 needing to download the app, making the transition smoother for all users, as noted by the Daily Freeman.