Mayor Keith Wilson directed the Portland Bureau of Transportation to pause enforcement of its extended pay-to-park hours in the city's downtown core beginning Oct. 15 following pushback from residents.
"Our downtown economy is still in recovery, and we need to ensure that our parking policies support evening activity and small businesses," Wilson said in a statement yesterday.
Catch up quick: In August, the city's budget-strapped transportation agency began phasing in extending paid parking meter hours from 7pm to 10pm, as a way to add revenue to its basic street maintenance and operations budget.
The move was met with criticism from neighbors and business owners, who argued it would only dissuade people from patronizing nearby restaurants and retail shops.
What's next: In two weeks, all parking meter enforcement hours in all five pay-to-park districts will revert to 7 pm, except during event district hours.
