Thousands take advantage of reduced and free Philadelphia parking

The Philadelphia Parking Authority is seeing some results from a discount parking program it started because of the heavy snow.

The Philadelphia Parking Authority is seeing some results from a discount parking program it started because of the heavy snow.

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The program has given drivers free parking at meters for the past few days and also provided deeply discounted evening parking in Parking Authority run garages and lots in Center City. Vince Fenerty is head of the Parking Authority. He says they are giving the discounts to encourage people to come into the city and spend money with merchants.

Fenerty: Public parking facilities are there to serve the public and when there is a tough economic time or a disaster and this is a disaster for our center city businesses and establishments. We’re trying our best to get people back into Center City.

Fenerty says people are even staying after work and shopping because of the cheaper parking. There is no estimate of how much the promotion will cost in lost parking revenue, but at least 4500 people have taken advantage of free or discounted parking.

For garages and lots, the parking promotion ends Monday morning. No end has been announced for the free metered parking.