Ricardo Villarreal told SMA residents on February 25 that the new parking regime (metered parking) was set up to make those who want the luxury of parking in the Historic Center subsidize the cost of more economical options available to residents, like shuttle buses and parking lots at entry points to the city.
He said the parking project won’t be stopped and that it was decided “politically.”
But on Tuesday March 6, after the protests generated by the “parking meter controversy”, the City Council approved the temporary suspension of the whole “Integral Mobility System”.
“This is just a suspension. There is no revocation by the Council, nor is there grounds for revocation “, said Ricardo Villarreal, Mayor of SMA.
Villarreal, added that after listening to the citizens of San Miguel, he considers the possibility of a public consultation.
There are 1,300 parking spaces available in the Historic Center, and more than 1,000 occupied by people that use them for more than 12 hours (8am-8pm), which means that Sanmiguelenses and visitors have to fight for one of those 300 free spaces in Centro.
More than 60 percent of the traffic is generated from lack of parking space and the growing number of vehicles that roam the cobblestone streets of SMA year in year out.
The San Miguel mayor was initially looking forward to have the parking meters installed, up and running for the “Semana Santa” holiday season.
SMT Newsroom with information from Atención SM and Periodico Correo