Parking Plus

Amtrak service to Roanoke began on October 31, 2017.

Amtrak passenger train service offers a daily train that departs and arrives in Downtown Roanoke.

The new stop is part of Amtrak’s Northeast Regional Route, making it easy to reach destinations like Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, and Boston.

Check out the Amtrak Brochure for full details.

Amtrak Schedule and Ticketing
The current downtown Roanoke arrival/departure schedule* is below. Note – boarding for the train is 30 minutes prior to departure.

Monday – Friday: Departure – 6:19 a.m. | Arrival: 9:55 p.m.
Saturday: Departure: 8:40 a.m. | Arrival: 9:33 p.m.
Sunday: Departure: 8:40 a.m. | Arrival: 9:48 p.m.
*Schedules are subject to change. Always remember to check Amtrak.com for the most up-to-date information.

Tickets can be purchase through Amtrak’s website or by calling 1-800-872-7245.

Platform Location and Parking
The Roanoke station is located in Downtown Roanoke at 55 Norfolk Avenue SW, Roanoke, VA 24011. This station features an ADA accessible platform with shelter, but there is no enclosed waiting area, no restrooms, and no ticket office.

Parking
There is nearby parking available for Amtrak customers at the Tower Garage – 19 Norfolk Avenue. Details and information can be found here.

Tower Garage Map Location

Here is a Guide to Using Amtrak from the Roanoke Times.

Announcing a new DMV Select Office has recently opened by the City Treasurer.

Located at the Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building 2nd floor at City Treasurer’s Office, 215 Church Avenue, SW, Room 254 Roanoke, VA 24011 (540) 853-2561
Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

The Treasurer’s Office provides mostly vehicle-related transactions such as:

• Titles
• Plate Issuance
• Surrender Tags
• Driving Record copies
• Vehicle Record copies
• Disabled Placard Issuance
• Specialty Plate Issuance

Go online to DMVNow or visit a full service customer service center for driver-related transactions such as Driver’s License renewals, applications or replacements, Veteran ID Cards, Name Changes, compliance transactions, etc…

For questions or more information, please contact the City Treasurer’s Office at 540-853-2561.

Some PARK Roanoke locations are free on Sundays except for automated garages that operate 24/7.

Parking is free All Day Saturday and Sunday at these locations:

Elmwood Park Garage
Elmwood Lot
Warehouse Row Lot

Saturdays until 4:00 p.m. at these locations: Market Lot, Tower Garage (a nominal fee applies after 4:00 p.m.)

Weekdays after 5:00 p.m. at these locations: Elmwood Park Garage and Elmwood Lot (Thursday – Friday), Warehouse Row Lot

Weekdays after 9:00 p.m. at these locations: Market Lot and Tower Garage

Weekdays after 10:00 p.m. at these locations: Elmwood Park Garage (Monday – Wednesday) and Elmwood Lot (Monday – Wednesday)

Nominal charges may apply at various garages and lots after 4:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Contact PARK Roanoke for more information (540) 343-0585.

Merchants may participate in our Validation Program to offer free or reduced price parking.

If your vehicle has a disabled parking license plate, or a properly displayed disabled parking Disabled Signplacard, you may park in a designated disabled space for an unlimited amount of time.

If your vehicle has a disabled parking license plate or a properly displayed disabled parking placard, you may park in a timed space (2-hour, 1-hour, etc..) for up to four (4) hours. For example, you could park for 4 hours in a spot where the sign reads “30-minute parking.” This does not apply to off-street lots, garages or on-street locations with meters or paystations.

When parking at a meter monitored street, those with disabled plates and placards must register at the meter to receive one hour free and obtain a receipt. Payment will need to be made for additional time at the meter.

It is never allowed to park in a loading zone, in front of a fire hydrant or in a fire lane or where it says “No Parking.” Such zones are off limits at all times. Due to the seriousness of violations of disabled parking, warning citations are never issued for violations such as these.

Proper Placement of Placards

Disabled parking placards must be displayed from the rear view mirror of the vehicle (not on the dashboard) with the permit number facing the street. Patrol vehicles must be able to see the placard from both the front and rear of the vehicle. For greater privacy, masking the driver information on the reverse side of the placard is allowed. It is important that all drivers understand that no placard should be left hanging from the rear view mirror while the vehicle is in motion.

Both the Code of Virginia, the Code of the City of Roanoke, and the DMV regulations state that the placard must be hung from the rear view mirror.

The Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles has a Fraud Misuse Hotline and Web-site to report violations or abuses of disabled parking placards or plates 1-877-ZERO-FRAUD (1-877-937-6372) or email them at zerofraud@dmv.virginia.gov

Division of Motor Vehicles Information on Disabled Placards

Frequently Asked Questions: Disabled Placard

Q. What is the fine or penalty for parking in a disabled zone improperly? The fine is $125 for a violation of Section 20-76. The State Code sets forth a minimum penalty of $125 up to $500, for parking illegally in a disabled space.

Q. Why did I receive a $25 fine for Improper Placard Display? Section 20-76 of the Code of the City of Roanoke sets forth a fine of $25 for parking in a disabled zone without proper display of a placard from a rear view mirror. If there is no rear view mirror on the vehicle, then the placard may be displayed on the dashboard.

Q. I have hang-tag, but it’s worn out and would not stay on the rear view mirror. Why did I receive a ticket? It is each person’s responsibility to ensure that their disabled parking placard will hang properly from the rear view mirror. Drivers are responsible for replacing any worm or damaged placards as well as ensuring that the placard hangs from the rear view mirror. Contact the Virginia DMV for more information.

Q. My vehicle has an unusually large rear view mirror and the hang tag will not work? Is it Ok to place it on the dashboard? The DMV regulations, the State Code, and the City Code all specify that the placard must hang from the rear view mirror. Depending on the situation, an option may be to obtain disabled license plates. Additionally, many companies sell plastic sleeves and accessories to assist in hanging the placard from the rear view mirror.

PARK Roanoke offers a special Lunch Time Rate for convenient and easy parking near the Downtown Roanoke Market Area:

$1 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Market Lot

• Permits may only be issued to construction work vehicles and not to a personal vehicle.
• Only two permits may be issued per block.
• Permits apply to “timed parking” zones and do not permit parking in Fire Lanes, Disabled Zones, Loading Zones, No Parking zones, metered zones, etc…
• Permits are subject to all parking regulations.

Here are links to many transportation and related websites:

• Valley Metro Public Bus Transportation Services
• SmartWay Bus Connecting the Roanoke Valley with the New River Valley
• Ride Solutions Connecting the Regions Commuters
• The Star Line Trolley – The Valley’s Trolley Network
• Virginia’s Division of Motor Vehicles
• The Roanoke Valley Greenways
• Bike & Walk Roanoke
• Virginia Department of Transportation including traffic cams, maps, and travel reports
• Mega bus offering daily express bus service in our region
• Alternative Transportation for Virginia Tech Students
• Zimride – a private ride sharing network for Virginia Tech
• Zip Cars – Wheels when you want them

The City of Roanoke’s Transportation Division is responsible for repairing and maintaining signs that direct parking and traffic. If you notice any sign that needs repair, please submit a service request.

https://www.roanokeva.gov/1180/Request-City-Services

Email: transportation@roanokeva.gov