Big CTA parking fee hike packs a passenger double whammy
While the CTA fare hike that went into effect New Year's Day has gotten plenty of notice, the doubling of parking fees at most CTA parking garages has flown under the radar, for the most part.
Also starting New Year's Day, parking rates at garages run by the CTA doubled, generally rising to $4 from $2, depending on how long you park. It's the first rate increase in four years.
The CTA press release sheepishly informs us: "The money from the rate increases does not go entirely to the CTA. Parking taxes are collected from each transaction on behalf of either the City or County, depending on the parking lot’s location. CTA expects the rate increase will generate approximately $1 million annually."
Now we have to pay twice as much for the pigeon poop on your car at Cumberland station.
Posted by: stina | January 02, 2009 at 03:10 PM
Now I won't feel so bad about taking up two spaces when I park at Cumberland. Maybe the extra money could be used to repaint the lines in the garage so that someone can get back in his car when someone else parks in the next space.
Posted by: ebob | January 02, 2009 at 05:52 PM
Stina, you're always welcome to drive downtown, spend $25 parking and have a bird poop on your car anyways.
Posted by: Martha | January 02, 2009 at 07:10 PM
I agree, the parking hike will be felt by many, but it is still cheaper than driving an parking in the loop haha
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Posted by: Scott Sweeney | January 03, 2009 at 02:41 AM
there's a $1 city (or maybe county) parking fee tax on any parking charges over $2, hence the jump to a $4 fee in most places. while the fee doubles in most lots for users, the CTA is seeing only a portion of that hike as revenue.
Posted by: srta | January 08, 2009 at 11:29 AM
It's not a first rate increase in 4 years at least at the Cumberland Garage. The last increase there happened about 2 years ago. It went from $1.75 to $2.
@Martha,
Some parking places have monthly deals. Last time I've heard about one, it was somewhere in the range of $180 - $200 a month for a single space. It'll cost me now to park my car and ride the CTA a cool $180 a month. Now it's getting pretty even if you forget about the cost of gas and environmental impact of burning more fuel by riding your own car.
Posted by: mc | January 13, 2009 at 10:23 AM
Don't forget to factor into your equation all that quality time you get to spend sitting on the Kennedy, especially this winter. Don't really see how equal costs of parking fees has anything to do with environmental impact. You're still sending pounds of carbon and particulates into the atmosphere every time you drive, which you don't do while riding the L.
Posted by: Martha | January 13, 2009 at 11:36 AM
People may complain about the cost of parking, but the lots are still full.
Some people may have stopped using the lots because the higher price tipped the scales in their value judgements. But they have been replaced by others who are willing to pay the price.
The CTA doesn't need to keep the price of parking artificially low to create higher ridership figures. A full lot generates the same ridership regardless of who it is that's filling the lot.
When the price of parking becomes too high, you'll see it in the empty spaces in the lots.
Posted by: Rusty | January 13, 2009 at 01:42 PM