Asheville considers downtown parking meter rate increase, could extend hours until 9 p.m.
ASHEVILLE - Parking at downtown meters may get pricier if a proposal to bump the hourly rate and extend metering hours until 9 p.m. is approved by Asheville City Council.
Proposed changes come amid funding needs for $11.3 million in parking garage repairs and efforts to better manage downtown parking: encouraging turnover and for people to head to one of the city's four downtown garages when parking for longer durations.
While meter costs could increase from $1.50 to $2 an hour, garage rates are proposed to drop from a daily maximum of $20 to $15. The special event rate will land at $9 across the board.
There are about 751 metered parking spaces downtown, the Citizen Times reported last year.
Pre-COVID, the city collected about $1.7 million annually in revenue from parking meters. At the onset of COVID, the revenue dropped to around $1.4 million annually. Since fiscal year 2022, revenues have rebound to 2019 levels.
Extending hours for on-street parking would require two additional parking enforcement positions. Factoring in those extra costs, the proposed changes would generate approximately $1.5 million in additional revenue, according to a March 12 staff report.
The new fiscal year 2025 fee schedule will be considered by Asheville City Council March 26. Any adjustments would go into effect July 1.
Proposed changes:
Garage daily max reduction: The daily maximum rate for parking in city garages (Harrah's Cherokee Center, Biltmore Avenue, Rankin Avenue, Wall Street) would decrease from $20 to $15.
Special event parking: Currently, event parking fees range from $7-$9 depending on the event. This would standardize special event parking to $9 per day for all events
Meter rates: The proposal would increase rates by $0.50 per hour, raising them to $2 per hour. ($580,000 additional annual revenue)
Meter hours extension: Currently, meter hours end at 6 p.m., but under the proposed changes, they would extend until 9 p.m. ($490,000 additional annual revenue)
There was some concern from council members at a March 12 Policy Finance and HR Committee meeting around increasing the metering hours, particularly for people working late shifts at service industry jobs.
Council member Kim Roney said she was supportive of rate increases as an effort to capture more tourist dollars for infrastructure needs, but worried about the "pinch" for downtown workers if meter hours are extended to 9 p.m.
"What I'm looking for is ways we can mitigate the impact on the people who live and work downtown," she said. She pointed to the parking garage "sunset rate" as a mitigation strategy, which provides access to garages from 4 p.m. to 7 a .m. at a cheaper rate, but also asked after waitlists for the city's monthly parking options.
Monthly parking options
Monthly parking options for the city's downtown decks range from $100-$130 a month for 24/7 access. For a 12-hour rate, it's in the $80-$100 range, and $65-$90 for sunset rates, depending on the garage.
Surface lots can be as low as no cost, up to $60. And on-street permits fall between $30-$50.
Budget manager Taylor Floyd said there are about 15 open spots within its under $40 on-street monthly permit parking options, and 52 monthly spots available across all garages.
Buncombe County is also promoting its affordable parking program, which includes spaces at its Coxe Avenue and College Street decks for $40 a month. Of the 200 spaces in the program, the county has 57 openings as of March 21.
This initiative, focused on service industry and retail workers, is now taking applications for the remaining spots.
To be eligible, you need to work in Downtown Asheville and make 80% area median income, which is less than $22.88 per hour or $3,967 per month.
City will assess fee structure further
The city is in the beginning stages of a comprehensive review of its parking "service delivery model, fee structure and potential expansion of services," according to the March 12 presentation.
What is being proposed now is a "tip-toe" into what the department expects to be potential additional changes, said interim Transportation Director Jessica Morriss said. They will also consider expansion beyond the core of downtown.
The intention is to provide better parking management and services, she said, "trying to manage the curb space as fairly and equitably as we possibly can."
If you go: Asheville City Council will vote on fee changes at its 5 p.m., March 26 regular meeting in council chambers at downtown's City Hall. Public comment will be accepted.
More: $11.3M in repairs needed at Asheville garages: 'Signs of deterioration'
More: Answer Woman: Are some downtown Asheville parking meters being replaced? What's the cost?
Sarah Honosky is the city government reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. News Tips? Email shonosky@citizentimes.com or message on Twitter at @slhonosky. Please support local, daily journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Asheville considers downtown parking fee changes; What's proposed?
