Following the DANA on October 29, 2024, the Catarroja City Council has worked to address an exceptional situation that profoundly altered the daily lives of many families, with garages rendered unusable and difficulties in moving and parking. During this time, flexibility has been exercised, and real parking alternatives have been enabled to support citizens.
Specifically, more than 2,700 new parking spaces have already been made available to the municipality, as part of the development of the Parking Plan, which will begin a new stage on May 4. This initiative seeks to restore normality and order in shared spaces.
“"After months in which we have supported many families with understanding and flexibility, Catarroja is moving towards a new stage, and moving forward also means gradually recovering normality, order, and respect for the space we all share."
Recovering normality also means addressing situations that affect the daily lives of many people. Improper parking on sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, intersections, green areas, or essential access points continues to create mobility and coexistence difficulties, especially for the elderly, children, families with strollers, and people with reduced mobility, in addition to hindering access for public and emergency services.
Therefore, this new phase of the Parking Plan is not solely a regulatory matter, but a commitment to continue caring for the municipality through co-responsibility and the proper use of common space. The goal is to consolidate a more friendly, accessible, and safe Catarroja, leaving behind dynamics associated with the exceptional circumstances experienced after the DANA.
Data from recent months reflects the need to continue moving in this direction. During 2025, 2,741 infractions related to improper parking were recorded, and in the first quarter of 2026, 586 have been counted, compared to the 149 recorded in the same period of the previous year.
“"This is not a revenue-generating measure, but an action to care for Catarroja, protect coexistence, and reclaim public spaces for people. Because rebuilding the municipality is not just about repairing what is damaged, but also about recovering a more respectful, safer, and more thoughtful way of living together for everyone."
The City Council will continue to enable and communicate new parking alternatives that facilitate the daily lives of citizens, while also developing informative and awareness-raising actions to support this new stage. With this new phase of the Parking Plan, Catarroja takes another step in its daily recovery, understanding that caring for where we park is also caring for those who walk, those who need access to a service, and those who depend on a free, safe, and accessible urban environment.
