The City of Charlotte has taken a major step forward in modernizing its on-street parking system this summer, raising meter rates and expanding paid parking to Saturdays. After years of discussion and analysis, the City officially increased the hourly rate for on-street parking in Uptown and South End from $1.00 to $1.50 on July 1, 2022, and followed up by beginning paid parking on Saturdays on September 10, 2022.
Our team was proud to support this process by conducting a comprehensive parking supply and demand study for Uptown Charlotte. Our work helped evaluate the efficacy of the long-standing $1/hour rate, documented pervasive parking demand throughout the week (especially on Saturdays when on-street parking was previously free), and provided data-driven recommendations to guide the City’s rate and policy adjustments. The study’s findings underscored that the existing rate was underpricing premium curbspace and incentivizing long-term parking at the expense of turnover and access.
These adjustments — a 50 % increase in meter rates and the introduction of Saturday paid parking — align Charlotte with best practices in urban curb management and support a healthier parking ecosystem for residents, visitors, and local businesses alike. By increasing turnover and optimizing curb use, the City is aiming for a more vibrant and accessible Uptown Charlotte. Our team continues to believe that thoughtful parking pricing is a key lever for improving urban experience and economic vitality.
Congratulations to the City of Charlotte on implementing these important changes. We look forward to seeing how the community continues to manage parking proactively as downtown activity grows. As always, our team remains available to help cities translate parking data and policy into practical outcomes that benefit people and places.