FAQs About Downtown Jefferson City Parking - October 2025
Downtown Jefferson City, Inc. is committed to keeping our supporters, visitors, and community members informed during this period of change for downtown parking. The transition following the closure of the Madison Street parking garage will bring temporary challenges, but also long-term improvements for accessibility, convenience, and growth in our city’s core. To help answer your most common questions, we’ve compiled this FAQ resource based on the October 2025 Downtown Parking Town Hall with the City of Jefferson and PCI Municipal Services. Whether you work, shop, dine, or visit Downtown, we want you to have the most up-to-date information on parking options, construction plans, and how to stay connected as we move forward together.
This has been posted in October, 2025 and updates will happen, and be dated when they occur. Questions about parking can be sent to us through the contact page on this website.
Downtown Jefferson City Parking – Full FAQ
(Based on the October 4, 2025 Town Hall discussion with PCI Municipal Services and the City of Jefferson)
General & Transition Questions
Why is the Madison Street Parking Garage closing?The Madison Street parking garage has structural and safety issues after more than decades of use. Engineers hired by The City of Jefferson determined a partial closure is needed now do to unsafe conditions. Demolition was already planned for the fall of 2025 before this partial closure was determined in October 2025.
Will the City rebuild the garage?
Yes. A new parking structure is planned for the same site. The design, construction timeline, and contractor selection are still being finalized. Obviously. the demolition must be completed before the rebuild can begin. Whether the new garage is part of the planned conference center has yet to be determined by the City Council as this time.
When will the current garage close?
The garage is partially closed now, and all monthly parkers will be relocated to new spots by November 1, 2025. The garage will fully close and be demolished in November, 2025.
Who is managing parking now?
The City of Jefferson has partnered with PCI Municipal Services (PCI), a national parking management company specializing in municipal systems. PCI will manage downtown lots, meters, and permits and help plan for future improvements.
What is “Park JCMO”?
Park JCMO is the new parking brand for Jefferson City. The website ParkJCMO.org (launching soon) will consolidate all parking information—locations, maps, rates, citations, appeals, and alerts—under one system.
Parking Relocation & Options
How many people currently park in the Madison garage?There are about 229 monthly permit holders. PCI has mapped where they can be relocated to available surface lots and on-street spaces.
Where will those parkers go now?
A mix of on-street and off-street options has been identified:
- 840 off-street spaces (in various lots)
- 965 on-street spaces, of which about 211 are open on average at peak times.
How will parking spaces be assigned?
Permits will be sold for specific areas, not individual spots. Spaces are first-come, first-served within each lot or on-street zone.
How will PCI know who is permitted?
Permit holders will be registered by license plate, not stickers or hangtags. A new digital system called ParkLane will track active permits and allow parkers to manage their own vehicle information online.
Will current rates stay the same?
Not exactly. PCI is preparing a new rate recommendation for the City Council. Rates will vary by location:
Closest to the old garage (Area 1): similar to the garage’s $81/month rate.
A few blocks farther (Areas 2–3): cheaper options, possibly saving $40+ per month.
Hourly metered rates are also expected to increase slightly, especially on high-demand streets. All of these proposed new rates will have to be approved by the City Council before being implemented.
Why will parking cost more?Raising rates helps maintain and replace parking infrastructure. A single parking space in a garage costs around $30,000 to build and $500+ per year to maintain. Reasonable rates ensure the system remains self-sustaining.
How can I choose my new parking area?
PCI will email every garage permit holder a pricing sheet and preference form. Choices will be honored first-come, first-served. Parkers who act quickly will have the best chance at their preferred lot.
What if my preferred area is full?
You may be placed in a nearby zone with available capacity. PCI is monitoring usage and can adjust allocations if needed.
Will there be surface lot options for covered-garage parkers?
Yes. Several surface lots are available within two to three blocks of the old garage. They will be included in the options list.
Will there still be daily/hourly parking available for visitors?
Yes. PCI is reserving space for short-term parkers near businesses and government buildings to support customers and visitors.
What if I arrive and no spots are open in my area?
It’s possible during peak times you’ll need to park in a nearby lot or on a side street. PCI will monitor availability and adjust oversell levels to keep spaces accessible.
Will there be changes to snow removal?
Snow removal for city streets—including East High Street—remains the responsibility of the City Street Department, not PCI. PCI will coordinate with them to ensure parking areas are cleared efficiently. Subscribers to the snow removal program of Downtown Jefferson City, Inc. will continue to be billed separately for snow removal as you have been in the past. Questions about the snow removal can be sent to [email protected].
What about ADA (disabled) parking spaces?
PCI will review the distribution of ADA-accessible parking and make recommendations following ADA guidelines. More accessible spaces may be added where needed.
Will there be new loading zones or pickup areas?
Yes. PCI plans to recommend a mix of 15-minute and short-term loading/pickup zones for business deliveries and customer convenience, especially along High Street.
Rates, Fines & Time Limits
Will the free 90-minute spaces stay?
Likely not in their current form. PCI’s data show that downtown success improves when prime spaces have higher rates and shorter limits to encourage turnover. They will recommend updated rates and limits to the City Council and the City Council will have to approve, amend, or deny these recommendations.
How much will tickets (citations) cost?
PCI suggested raising fines for parking violations to encourage compliance. Fines could range from $50 to $100 depending on the violation and based on what comparable cities charge, though the final amounts are up to the City Council.
Will parking still be free after 5 p.m. and on weekends?
Currently, yes—but PCI may recommend extending paid hours or weekend enforcement based on what similar cities do. Any change would require City Council approval and public notice. Follow the Facebook page, sign up for text messages from, and subscribe to the emails of Downtown Jefferson City, Inc. to stay informed!
Will there still be cash payment options?
Yes. While PCI encourages mobile app or card payment, kiosks will accept cash and coins for those who prefer not to use digital methods.
Construction & Events
When will demolition and construction start?
The city is bidding the demolition project now. Exact start and end dates are not yet set. Businesses and parkers will be notified as soon as a timeline is confirmed. Follow the Facebook page, sign up for text messages from, and subscribe to the emails of Downtown Jefferson City, Inc. to stay informed!
Will nearby alleys, streets, or lots close during construction?
Some closures are expected around the Madison site, but PCI and the City plan to keep nearby lots and alleys open as long as safely possible. Lot 3 and other adjacent areas will remain usable during early phases.
PCI and Downtown Jefferson City Inc. will work with the city to identify temporary lots, possible shuttles, or state-owned lots for event parking. Details will be announced before major events. Follow the Facebook page, sign up for text messages from, and subscribe to the emails of Downtown Jefferson City, Inc. to stay informed!
Data & Oversight
How does PCI know how many spaces are open?
City parking officers collect daily occupancy data from every lot year-round. PCI analyzed the past three years of that data to estimate typical and peak-season usage. These surveys took the legislative session, peak hours, and heavy event usage into account, as well. The City provided over 10 years of parking data to PCI.
Will PCI’s rate and policy recommendations be public?
Yes. Recommendations will go to the Jefferson City Council, becoming part of public council packets. Downtown JCMO will also share updates through its channels. Follow the Facebook page, sign up for text messages from, and subscribe to the emails of Downtown Jefferson City, Inc. to stay informed!
How can I ask a question or stay updated?
Follow: Downtown Jefferson City Inc. on Facebook and join the text and email lists.
Website: Check ParkJCMO.org (launching soon).
Contact: The City’s parking office (currently in the Madison garage) or [email protected].
Future town halls will be scheduled as demolition and construction timelines become clearer.
Resources
PowerPoint from the town hall presentation on October 1, 2025
Handout from the town hall presentation on October 1, 2025
You can watch the presentation here: https://vimeo.com/1126245842?fl=pl&fe=sh
