CHARLOTTE — A Saturday trip to Uptown or South End in Charlotte will soon cost you a few extra dollars.
Beginning on March 25, on-street parking in two of the city’s most popular areas will now come at a price.
The Charlotte Department of Transportation has already begun placing stickers on signs to warn drivers of the impending fees.
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An hour of parking on Saturday will now cost $1.50, the same price it costs from Monday through Friday.
Charlotte city leaders estimate the change will bring in extra funding each year to support maintenance and transportation projects.
Some folks who live and work in the area told Channel 9′s Erika Jackson the move is simply a money grab.
Giti Tehranchian works at a store off South Church Street. She admits it can be a challenge to find a parking spot in the bustling area, but she isn’t sure paid parking will ease the problem.
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“I think it is a little bit annoying,” she said. “Just because we do it the whole rest of the week, especially on the weekends when it is most busy and it’s already hard to find parking.”
Others in Uptown said it doesn’t make sense to charge people who are spending money in town.
“Now you have them paying all this money to park, that’s just outrageous,” Antoine Montgomery told Channel 9. “Somebody wants some more money. Basically, that’s what it is.”
Ticketing or towing will be the risk for anyone who attempts to skirt the $1.50 hourly fee.
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