ParkSJ, the City of San Jose’s public parking brand, stayed busy during the pandemic when most people stayed home and the vibrancy of downtown streets declined. However, the City’s parking facilities served the public during unprecedented trying times and looked to the future with an optimistic eye on recovery. 

During the initial shelter-in-place period starting March 19, 2020, the City lifted ParkSJ access gates and opened all of its lots, garages and street meters to downtown’s residents,  essential workers and customers who continued to support restaurants that converted to take-out operations.  Monthly parking accounts permits were suspended starting April 2020.  Parking operators continued to maintain the properties, including janitorial services and security.

ParkSJ garages are located at Market Street and San Pedro Square; Third and St. John streets; San Fernando and Fourth streets and Second and San Carlos streets. At those garages, tp prepare for an eventual return to business, payment systems were converted to include a contactless option  – just wave your card or device over the reader.

At the same time that City Department of Transportation officials prepared to resume charging in August 2020, they adjusted programs and rates to support business recovery:

1. Eliminating the 30-year-old parking validation program for select businesses and replacing it with 90 minutes of free parking for everyone.The validation program served qualifying businesses such as retail, restaurants, night clubs and salons, providing customers with up to two hours of free parking.However, it was confusing for businesses and customers and time-consuming for the City to manage and administer. The first-90-minutes-free program results in equity for all downtown businesses and their customers who park at ParkSJ garages. This new parking plan feature is easier to understand for merchants and customers; provides costs savings to businesses by eliminating the former validation system; and reduces high-touch interactions at the validating businesses and garages.
2. The City instituted a program that allowed any downtown employee earning a wage less than $20 per hour a 50 percent discount on monthly parking.This program has proved popular with downtown workers who are tight on monthly budgets.

Since June 15, when Santa Clara County and the State eased COVID-19 restrictions and more and more customers and workers return to downtown, ParkSJ has been busy power-washing its garages before they become full again.  The garages will welcome people back with detailed floors and stairwells.

Details matter, and ParkSJ sets a great example for serving customers, assisting in business recovery and welcoming workers and patrons alike back to downtown San Jose. For more, check ParkSJ.org or contact the City’s parking operator at 408-794-1090