Free Parking in Portland, Maine Could Be Going Away on Nights and Sundays

If you’re someone who counts on free parking in downtown Portland after dinner or on Sundays, that convenience could soon be going away.

City officials are working through a proposed $363 million budget, and one of the ideas on the table would expand paid parking hours across the city. Right now, meters are enforced Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Under the new proposal, that would stretch to 7 p.m., and for the first time, drivers would also have to pay on Sundays between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

According to WGME 13, the potential change is part of a larger effort to deal with rising costs. City leaders say this has been a particularly difficult budget year, forcing them to look at a mix of cutting positions, reducing services, and finding new ways to bring in revenue. Expanding parking enforcement is one of the options being considered, with estimates suggesting it could generate around $770,000.

Officials also point out that parking fees are often paid by people visiting Portland, not just residents. That makes it one way to help offset the burden on local taxpayers while still bringing in money for city services.

Reaction to the idea has been mixed. Some people who work in the city say it makes sense, especially if it mostly impacts tourists who are only in town temporarily. Others are less enthusiastic, noting that free parking after 6 p.m. and on Sundays has long been one of the small perks of spending time downtown.

For now, nothing is finalized. The city manager is expected to meet with the finance committee soon to begin a deeper review of the budget. But if these changes move forward, parking in Portland could look a lot different in the near future, WGME reported.