Drivers who park underneath the Joel D. Valdez Main Library downtown are getting a little breathing room Thursday and Friday evenings before having to get their cars out.
Starting next week, that underground parking garage will stay open until 9 p.m. those days. That will match its closing time the rest of the work week. Currently, the garage closes at 7 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays.
The library closes at 8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 6 p.m. Thursday and 5 p.m. Friday.
But now, “We’re going ... to be more consistent day to day, and not be so confusing” with garage hours, said Donovan Durband, administrator for Park Tucson, which runs city parking garages.
“It’s also potentially not helpful for people working downtown who may park there during the day and work late and want to go out for dinner after work. Then you have to move your car,” Durband said. “Having the same closing time is easier to understand and communicate and means better availability and better service.”
The parking garage’s weekday fee structure remains the same. The first hour is free. Two hours cost $2. Each additional hour costs another $1.
The garage’s weekend closing times remain the same — 6 p.m. on Saturday and 5 p.m. Sunday. The garage also remains free on weekends.
