Increases to Fund New Parking Meter Technology in City

Update 11.17.2014

The Parking Commission approved an increase in parking rates and violations for the City of St. Louis. The new prices are set to take effect July 1, 2015. The increases will help fund new parking meter technology in the City.

Parking meter rates will increase to $1.50 an hour in high demand areas and $1.00 an hour in low demand areas. The rates are currently $1.00 an hour in downtown and 75 cents an hour in the rest of the city.

The Commission also approved increases in parking violations. Class 1 parking violations will increase to $15 from $10, while Class 2 parking violations (no parking, bus, taxi or commercial vehicle zone or yellow curb violation) will remain at $25. Class 3 violations (no stopping, double parking or tow-away zone violation, blocking intersection, alley, or fire hydrant, lane or station, or traffic flow impairment) will to increase to $40 from $30, and Class 4 violations (disabled parking fines) will increase to $100 from $75.

The increases were recommended in a parking study that is required by city code. Desman Associates was hired to evaluate the city’s current on and off-street parking programs and to recommend improvements to the parking system. Desman was selected after responding to a request for proposal (RFP) for the parking study.

Desman was asked to provide recommendations on parking utilization;national and international best practices;future deployment of parking meters;guidelines for establishing and maintaining permit parking zones;pricing;and principles for accommodating special events and construction.

The parking study was conducted in conjunction with the six month field test of various parking technologies in downtown St. Louis and the Central West End. The Treasurer’s Office selected Xerox and Parkmobile to upgrade parking meter technology in the city. Xerox will be responsible for upgrading parking meters and software technology, while Parkmobile will be responsible for launching a smartphone app to pay for parking.

“We are committed to providing an efficient, customer-friendly and cost effective parking operation for the City of St. Louis,” said Tishaura O. Jones, Treasurer of the City of St. Louis. “In order to do that, we need to improve technology, and new technology costs money. But we believe that this modest price increase won’t overwhelm those who utilize on-street parking in the city.”

To view the parking study,click here.

To view the city code that requires the study, (17.62.050)  click here [previous.slpl.org][previous.slpl.org].

Original Story Published 10.09.14

The City of St. Louis Treasurer’s Office is looking at raising parking meter rates and parking fines in 2015 after reviewing the preliminary results of a parking study.

Desman Associates was hired to evaluate the city’s current on and off-street parking programs and to recommend improvements to the parking system. Desman was selected after responding to a request for proposal (RFP) for the parking study.

Desman was asked to provide recommendations on parking utilization; national and international best practices; future deployment of parking meters; guidelines for establishing and maintaining permit parking zones; pricing; and principles for accommodating special events and construction.

Desman’s preliminary recommendations include raising the parking meter rates to $1.50 an hour in high demand areas and $1.00 an hour in low demand areas. The rates are currently $1.00 an hour in downtown and 75 cents an hour in the rest of the city.

Desman also recommends raising Class 1 parking violations to $15 from $10, while keeping Class 2 parking violations at $25. Class 3 violations are recommended to increase to $40 from $25, and Class 4 violations (disabled parking fines) are recommended to increase to $100 from $75.

If the Parking Commission approves the recommendations, the rates would take effect July 1, 2015.

The parking study is required by city code and was conducted in conjunction with the six month field test of various parking technologies in downtown St. Louis and the Central West End. The Treasurer’s Office selected Xerox and Parkmobile to upgrade parking meter technology in the city. Xerox will be responsible for upgrading parking meters and software technology, while Parkmobile will be responsible for launching a smartphone app to pay for parking.

“We want to provide an efficient, customer-friendly and cost effective parking operation for the City of St. Louis,” said Tishaura O. Jones, Treasurer of the City of St. Louis. “While no one is a fan of price increases, new technology costs money. But the increases are modest enough that we are confident they won’t overwhelm those who utilize on-street parking in the city.”