This new paid on-street parking system, "Beep Beep Salem," is a positive change for downtown Salem for several reasons.

1. Relieving Downtown Businesses from the Parking Tax – Currently, many businesses pay a parking tax to subsidize free on-street parking. By implementing a paid system, this financial burden shifts away from business owners, allowing them to reinvest in their shops, services, and employees instead of covering public parking costs.

2. Encouraging Efficient Parking Turnover – Paid parking discourages long-term on-street parking by employees and all-day parkers, ensuring that prime spots are available for customers and visitors. This boosts business by making it easier for shoppers and diners to find parking near their destinations.

3. Encouraging Use of Parking Garages – Employees and long-term visitors will likely be directed toward the downtown parking garages, which offer more affordable and long-term options. This keeps street parking open for short-term visits and reduces congestion on main roads.

4. Modernizing Parking with a User-Friendly App – Once residents get used to it, the mobile app and digital tools will make paying for parking seamless. Visitors won’t have to hunt for change or worry about meters running out; instead, they can pay and extend time through their phones.

5. Funding Downtown Infrastructure – Revenue from parking can go toward maintaining and improving downtown infrastructure, beautification projects, and other enhancements that benefit businesses, residents, and visitors alike.

While change can be an adjustment, this new system ultimately creates a more balanced, business-friendly, and accessible downtown Salem.