Parking fees going up March 1

Residents will have to dig a little deeper to feed parking meters or to purchase parking passes come March 1.

The city is rolling out its new parking rates at that time. The changes are as follows:

Hourly rates: Meters, pay and display, YMCA and Tom Davies Square will now cost $1.25 an hour, up from the current $1 (Tom Davies from $1.30 to $1.60 after two hours).

Daily rates: All pay and display lots will now cost $8, up from $5 (excluding Medina Lane). Tom Davies lot will now cost $15.30, up from $12.40. There is no daily rate at the YMCA.

Monthly rates: Beech Street will now cost $90, up from $65; CP Rail will now cost $40, up from $30; Market Square will now cost $90, up from $65; Shaughnessy/Minto will now cost $70, up from $50; and Tom Davies Square will now cost $125, up from $100.

Parking during special events will now cost $3, up from the current $2

The increase in parking fees was passed by council as part of the 2012 municipal budget.

There are about 1,570 city-owned parking spaces in downtown Sudbury, according to the city, which accounts for about 45 per cent of the total parking supply in the city. There are another 1,920 spaces available through privately-owned businesses.

When council passed the increase to fees, it was estimated it would create $438,300 worth of new revenue, which will be contributed to parking capital reserves. Parking fees have not been raised at municipal lots in 10 years, the city stated.

The increase could also serve as a way to encourage those who park downtown to use alternate modes of transportation, the city's asset services department explained during a presentation to council in September.

This increase will bring municipal lots in line with private sector parking lots.

For more information regarding parking fees, lots and tickets, check the city website at greatersudbury.ca, search: parking, or dial 311 for citizen services.

The parking fees are part of the city's miscellaneous user fees, an entire envelope that will see an overall increase of 3.2 per cent. Included in that envelope is fees for day care, summer camps, camping and parks, community halls, playing fields, leisure services, cemetery services, planning applications, Market Square rental space and fire calls.

Fees charged for marriages and marriage licences have been frozen at the 2011 rates to remain competitive.

Posted by Arron Pickard