{"id":2917,"date":"2026-07-02T05:33:27","date_gmt":"2026-07-02T05:33:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tucsonmovingreport.com\/?p=2917"},"modified":"2026-07-02T05:33:27","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T05:33:27","slug":"tucson-raises-parking-rates-some-businesses-fear-customer-drop-off","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tucsonmovingreport.com\/?p=2917","title":{"rendered":"Tucson raises parking rates, some businesses fear customer drop-off"},"content":{"rendered":"
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TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Parking rates in downtown Tucson increased on Wednesday, July 1, for the first time in a decade.<\/p>\n

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The changes affect meters, garages, surface lots, and residential and monthly permits throughout the area.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The city said the increases will help offset a budget deficit and fund maintenance and improvements to parking services.<\/p>\n

Businesses raise concerns<\/b><\/h3>\n

Sandy Du Plessis, co-owner of Unicorn Zebra, said parking is already the top complaint she hears from customers.<\/p>\n

\u201cHonestly, I think it\u2019s kind of frustrating,\u201d Du Plessis said. \u201cThere\u2019s a very consistent trend where people tell you they don\u2019t want to go downtown, like to bars and restaurants, and that kind of thing, because they\u2019re reluctant to spend the money and the effort in terms of parking. It\u2019s a real barrier to entry.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all good and well if there\u2019s a ton of foot traffic and lots of demand for parking downtown and you\u2019re like, \u2018well, let\u2019s hike the rates,\u2019 but we\u2019re not there yet,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Fourth Avenue businesses affected<\/b><\/h3>\n

Randy Koch, owner of 1989 Bakehouse on Fourth Avenue, said the rate increase compounds an already difficult parking situation.<\/p>\n

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\u201cParking down on 4th Avenue is already hard, and now with the rate increase and the summer, it\u2019s going to not let people come down here,\u201d Koch said.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

City working on reduced-rate spaces<\/b><\/h3>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf parking is underpriced at the meters and people come, and they stay for long periods of time, you know, and there\u2019s not turnover in the parking stalls, then there\u2019s less opportunity for someone to come in who needs to go on a short trip to the business,\u201d Bemis said.<\/p>\n

The full list of parking rate changes is: <\/p>\n