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01-22-2009, 11:08 AM
Street spots hit $5 an hour; $6.50 at parkades
By Joel Kom, Calgary HeraldJanuary 22, 2009 7:01 AM
The most expensive parking in the nation just got more costly. Parking on downtown streets and in public lots will take more cash this year after the Calgary Parking Authority recently hiked its rates, a move its general manager said was a response to private lots also raising fees.
Parking on downtown streets now costs a maximum of $5 an hour, a 25 per cent increase from the $4 hourly fee last year.
Hourly spots in the priciest downtown city parkades now run $6.50 an hour, up from$6an hour. And monthly parking in the most expensive downtown public parkade, James Short at 1st Street and 4th Avenue S. W., now eats up $465 instead of $430.
"It's crazy.People won't be able to work downtown. They can't afford it," said Barb Cook, who parked in the Fairmont Palliser lot Tuesday to visit Art Central.
"With the economic situation in the country, it's an interesting time to be doing an increase," said Maggie Schofield, executive director of the Calgary Downtown Association.
While businesses have benefited from a new ParkPlus system that has translated into more spaces, she added, the higher price will start to drive people away.
Dale Fraser, the authority's general manager, defended the increase, saying rates hadn't been raised since 2007.
"It was evident to us that there was a growing differential between our rates and that of the market," he said. "(Street parking) is the most preferred parking of the various types that are available in downtown Calgary. It should be priced at the highest (level) to encourage turnover."
Fraser said an authority survey of 27 private lots found the average hourly rate was $7.20, 44 per cent higher than the new street parking rate. He knows of one private lot that charges $12.60 an hour.
The parking authority isn't taxpayer-supported, he added, and needs to raise its own cash to buy land and build new lots, including a new parkade in the East Village that's slated to add 450 spaces by 2011 at a cost of around $45 million.
The authority had a surplus of around $22 million last year, $13.5 million of which was given back to the city for transportation projects. The rest was kept for future parking projects.
Charging a considerable price for short-term downtown parking also fits in with city council's efforts to nudge people out of their cars and onto buses and C-Trains or into carpooling, Fraser said.
Ald. John Mar agreed, saying he has yet to receive complaints from drivers about the increase in fees.
"If you do choose to drive, the Calgary Parking Authority is still cheaper than most of the private lots," said Mar, whose ward includes part of downtown. "But any time you have a fee adjustment, you create controversy."
Ald. Druh Farrell said the authority's 15,000 lots only make up around 17 per cent of the market.
"They respond to what the private lots are charging," Farrell said. "We don't set that market."
The latest hikes boost the cost of what was already the most expensive parking in Canada and one of the most expensive in North America.
A survey of public and private lots last year by Colliers International found Calgary's median monthly parking rate was $428, nearly 50 per cent higher than second-place Montreal and Toronto. And when it came to North America, only New York City and Boston charged more for the space between two painted lines.
What's more, Calgary's median rate was the 16th highest on the planet of 138 international cities surveyed.
Those parking downtown Wednesday were less than thrilled with the hike.
"You can park free at Chinook, you can park free at Southcentre, why would you come downtown?" said Genevieve Janssen.
"I don't pay half the time any-ways because it's way too damn expensive here," said Mike, who didn't want his last name used, but said the fines he pays add up to less than paying the fee. "Now it's even more economical not to pay."
"Five bucks an hour's pretty high. It may be, like, $2.50 at home," said Bill Dilday, who was on vacation from Washington, D. C.
But, he added, it's also rare to find open spaces in downtown D. C., and it didn't take long for him to find a space on Centre Street at Stephen Avenue.
© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald
By Joel Kom, Calgary HeraldJanuary 22, 2009 7:01 AM
The most expensive parking in the nation just got more costly. Parking on downtown streets and in public lots will take more cash this year after the Calgary Parking Authority recently hiked its rates, a move its general manager said was a response to private lots also raising fees.
Parking on downtown streets now costs a maximum of $5 an hour, a 25 per cent increase from the $4 hourly fee last year.
Hourly spots in the priciest downtown city parkades now run $6.50 an hour, up from$6an hour. And monthly parking in the most expensive downtown public parkade, James Short at 1st Street and 4th Avenue S. W., now eats up $465 instead of $430.
"It's crazy.People won't be able to work downtown. They can't afford it," said Barb Cook, who parked in the Fairmont Palliser lot Tuesday to visit Art Central.
"With the economic situation in the country, it's an interesting time to be doing an increase," said Maggie Schofield, executive director of the Calgary Downtown Association.
While businesses have benefited from a new ParkPlus system that has translated into more spaces, she added, the higher price will start to drive people away.
Dale Fraser, the authority's general manager, defended the increase, saying rates hadn't been raised since 2007.
"It was evident to us that there was a growing differential between our rates and that of the market," he said. "(Street parking) is the most preferred parking of the various types that are available in downtown Calgary. It should be priced at the highest (level) to encourage turnover."
Fraser said an authority survey of 27 private lots found the average hourly rate was $7.20, 44 per cent higher than the new street parking rate. He knows of one private lot that charges $12.60 an hour.
The parking authority isn't taxpayer-supported, he added, and needs to raise its own cash to buy land and build new lots, including a new parkade in the East Village that's slated to add 450 spaces by 2011 at a cost of around $45 million.
The authority had a surplus of around $22 million last year, $13.5 million of which was given back to the city for transportation projects. The rest was kept for future parking projects.
Charging a considerable price for short-term downtown parking also fits in with city council's efforts to nudge people out of their cars and onto buses and C-Trains or into carpooling, Fraser said.
Ald. John Mar agreed, saying he has yet to receive complaints from drivers about the increase in fees.
"If you do choose to drive, the Calgary Parking Authority is still cheaper than most of the private lots," said Mar, whose ward includes part of downtown. "But any time you have a fee adjustment, you create controversy."
Ald. Druh Farrell said the authority's 15,000 lots only make up around 17 per cent of the market.
"They respond to what the private lots are charging," Farrell said. "We don't set that market."
The latest hikes boost the cost of what was already the most expensive parking in Canada and one of the most expensive in North America.
A survey of public and private lots last year by Colliers International found Calgary's median monthly parking rate was $428, nearly 50 per cent higher than second-place Montreal and Toronto. And when it came to North America, only New York City and Boston charged more for the space between two painted lines.
What's more, Calgary's median rate was the 16th highest on the planet of 138 international cities surveyed.
Those parking downtown Wednesday were less than thrilled with the hike.
"You can park free at Chinook, you can park free at Southcentre, why would you come downtown?" said Genevieve Janssen.
"I don't pay half the time any-ways because it's way too damn expensive here," said Mike, who didn't want his last name used, but said the fines he pays add up to less than paying the fee. "Now it's even more economical not to pay."
"Five bucks an hour's pretty high. It may be, like, $2.50 at home," said Bill Dilday, who was on vacation from Washington, D. C.
But, he added, it's also rare to find open spaces in downtown D. C., and it didn't take long for him to find a space on Centre Street at Stephen Avenue.
© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald