$10-an-hour parking comes to Petco Park next month

Padres fans, expect to pay more to park on the street near Petco Park starting next month.

This week, city crews are installing around 400 signs on curbs downtown to let drivers know about the new parking-meter rates taking effect Sept. 1.

Parking won’t always cost extra in the new so-called special event zone. But the hourly rate will rise to $10 an hour starting two hours before a big event at the stadium is set to begin, and will remain $10 an hour for the next six hours.

The Padres complained that the move was made “without meaningful input” from the team and would make it “significantly more expensive” for fans to attend games.

“We have not yet received information regarding how the new parking revenue will be reinvested locally but look forward to better understanding the city’s plan,” spokesperson Vanessa Dominguez added.

San Diego trolley and MTS bus fare to Petco Park remains $2.50 — the same it currently costs to park at a meter for one hour.

The special-event parking rate changes come after the City Council voted two months ago to approve a sweeping package of new parking rules that included the $10-an-hour meters near Petco, along with paid parking on Sundays and more meters citywide.

Also included in that package, officials say, is another change coming this summer: parking meter hours around the city will be extended by at least two hours later this month.

And earlier this year, the city also doubled parking meter rates citywide to $2.50 an hour in most places.

The quadrupled meter rates near Petco Park during Padres games and concerts are just the first step in a new effort by the city to introduce demand-based variable pricing in areas where parking is in high demand.

The zone where the special pricing will likely apply for now is bounded by Broadway to the north, State Street to the west, Interstate 5 to the east and Harbor Drive and 16th Street to the south.

The demand-variable parking rate policy change the council approved in June allows the city to charge as much as $20 an hour, but officials are starting with $10.

Petco Park isn’t the only popular San Diego destination where parking could soon get much more expensive. Last week, council members debated a comprehensive plan to begin charging drivers to park in Balboa Park. Collectively, the changes aim to help the city raise tens of millions of dollars.

A list of upcoming Petco Park events during which the $10-an-hour special parking rate will be in effect can be found here.