Starting this Monday, Feb. 23 a new residential parking zone (RPZ), time-limit signs for some no-cost spaces and two-hour paid parking will be implemented in Fremont's retail core.

The city department of transportation says the change is meant to ensure that finding a space to park will be easier for residents, visitors and business owners and employees.

Some business owners, residents and the Fremont Chamber of Commerce have opposed the plan, which has been under discussion since November 2008.

Paid parking will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday at a rate of $1.50 an hour.

 Residential Parking Zone signs will be installed on only one side of residential streets (the other side will remain unrestricted) with two-hour parking allowed from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for non-permit holders and from 8 p.m. to midnight.

The on-street parking enhancements will feature:

-An RPZ on streets north and east of the business district.

-Two-hour paid parking in the high demand retail area, using 90 of 700
spaces.

-Time-limit signs on no-cost spaces outside Fremont’s retail core.

The RPZ and paid parking signs are scheduled for installation on Feb. 23. Pay station kiosks will be emplaced starting on Feb. 25. With an installation schedule of approximately two weeks, paid parking will go into effect on March 9.
Time-limit signs will be installed in early March.

The city has cited studies conducted in 2005 and 2008 by external bodies showed that on-street parking was full on many Fremont streets, creating traffic congestion as people drove around looking for available spaces. The 2008 parking study highlighted that the majority of blocks were more than 75 percent full for the most of the day, with utilization rates as high as140 percent as drivers parked illegally.

When on-street parking use reaches 75 percent, the department considers changes to ensure par