By admin 
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Parking rates in downtown Tucson increased on Wednesday, July 1, for the first time in a decade.
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The changes affect meters, garages, surface lots, and residential and monthly permits throughout the area.
Metered parking throughout Tucson rose 50%, from $1 to $1.50 per hour. Garage and surface lot rates increased 25 cents to $1.25 per hour.
The city said the increases will help offset a budget deficit and fund maintenance and improvements to parking services.
Businesses raise concerns
Sandy Du Plessis, co-owner of Unicorn Zebra, said parking is already the top complaint she hears from customers.
“Honestly, I think it’s kind of frustrating,” Du Plessis said. “There’s a very consistent trend where people tell you they don’t want to go downtown, like to bars and restaurants, and that kind of thing, because they’re reluctant to spend the money and the effort in terms of parking. It’s a real barrier to entry.”
The city said its new rates are comparable to similar markets such as Albuquerque and El Paso. Du Plessis said she does not believe downtown Tucson has enough demand to support that comparison.
“It’s all good and well if there’s a ton of foot traffic and lots of demand for parking downtown and you’re like, ‘well, let’s hike the rates,’ but we’re not there yet,” she said.
Fourth Avenue businesses affected
Randy Koch, owner of 1989 Bakehouse on Fourth Avenue, said the rate increase compounds an already difficult parking situation.
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“Parking down on 4th Avenue is already hard, and now with the rate increase and the summer, it’s going to not let people come down here,” Koch said.
Koch said hourly employees will also feel the impact, adding that a 50% increase could cost workers hundreds of dollars more per year in parking expenses.
City working on reduced-rate spaces
The city said it is working with local businesses to offer dedicated parking spaces at a reduced rate throughout the area, including 50 spaces and more in the works. However, Koch and Du Plessis said they have not been included in those discussions.
Andy Bemis, deputy director of the Department of Transportation and Mobility, said the new pricing is intended to encourage economic activity by improving parking turnover.
“If parking is underpriced at the meters and people come, and they stay for long periods of time, you know, and there’s not turnover in the parking stalls, then there’s less opportunity for someone to come in who needs to go on a short trip to the business,” Bemis said.
The full list of parking rate changes is:
- Metered parking increased from $1 to $1.50 per hour
- Garage hourly and surface lot parking rates increase from $1 to $1.25 per hour
- Weekend and evening flat rates increase by $1
- Monthly parking permits increase by $5
- Residential parking permits increase by $8-10 annually
No changes are being made to parking meter enforcement hours. Meters will remain free on Sundays.
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