The Downtown Austin Alliance and the City of Austin announced today eight private parking garages have joined the Affordable Parking Program, which aims to make downtown parking more accessible and affordable to downtown service-industry and hospitality workers. This effort is part of the next phase of the Downtown Austin Alliance’sDowntown Parking Strategy.
Premier Parking will partner with the City to add eight private garages to the Affordable Parking Program. The cost to parkers will be $40 a month plus tax. The garages and times of operation for the program are:
- Frost Garage – 401 Congress Ave., 3 p.m. – 7 a.m., M-F and all day Sat./Sun.
- 600 Congress Garage – 600 Congress Ave., 3 p.m. – 7 a.m., M-F and all day Sat./Sun.
- 300 West 6th Garage – 300 West 6th St., 4 p.m. – 7 a.m., M-F and all day Sat./Sun.
- Littlefield Garage – 508 Brazos St., 3 p.m. – 7 a.m. M-F and all day Sat./Sun.
- 501 Congress Garage – 112 E. 5th St., 4 p.m. – 7 a.m., M-F and all day Sat./Sun.
- Lavaca Plaza Garage – 504 Lavaca St., 4 p.m. – 7 a.m., M-F and all day Sat./Sun.
- St. David’s Church Garage – 710 Trinity St., 3 p.m. – 7 a.m., M-F and all day Sat./Sun.
- Seaholm Garage– 211 Walter Seaholm Dr., 4 p.m. – 7 a.m., M-F and all day Sat./Sun.
“The Downtown Alliance is thankful to private businesses like Endeavor, Stream Realty and TIG Real Estate for recognizing the need for more affordable parking in downtown Austin,” Dewitt Peart, president and chief executive officer of the Downtown Austin Alliance, said. “Convenient, available parking downtown is not only vital to keeping traffic flowing as downtown continues to grow, but also crucial in keeping the economy growing, as parking options allow people to visit, work and enjoy downtown Austin.”
“With this surge in reach and availability, downtown employees now have more access than ever to the Affordable Parking Program,” said Jason Redfern, Austin Transportation Parking Operations Manager. “We’re excited to work with Premier Parking to open the program up to more people who need it, including those who are starting their shifts just as the traditional work day is winding down.”
On July 30, the City of Austin and the Downtown Austin Alliance significantly expanded the program to include affordable evening parking at the City Hall garage and the One Texas Center garage, across Lady Bird Lake on Barton Springs Road. The City of Austin provides the facilities, while the Downtown Austin Alliance and its transportation management association, Movability, work with local businesses to direct downtown workers to the program to maximize its potential.
That expansion more than doubled the capacity of the Affordable Parking Program, increasing it to approximately 500 spaces. The private-sector garages will add 2000 spaces to the program. Premier Parking manages parking at the private garages, which are owned by various companies, including Endeavor Real Estate Group, Stream Realty and TIG.
“We at Premier Parking are incredibly honored to be the first private parking operator to be partnering with the City of Austin on the Affordable Parking Program,” said Christina Murray, General Manager at Premier Parking. “We’re eager to share in the City’s efforts to deliver the program to our fellow members of the downtown community.”
The City of Austin launched the Affordable Parking Program in May 2016 at the Waller Creek Center Garage in the Red River Cultural District, and partnered with the Texas Facilities Commission in April 2018 to add the State of Texas Garage North near the Second and Fourth Street districts.
An application and monthly fee are required to participate in the Affordable Parking Program. Applications and more information are available at austintexas.gov/affordableparking.
In addition to partnering to expand this program aimed at increasing affordability, the Downtown Austin Alliance’s parking strategy initiative includes a comprehensive inventory of downtown parking options and recommendations.
