SAN ANTONIO – The city of San Antonio is proposing an increased parking rate for city-owned garages and lots downtown during special event days.
Those days, which the Center City Development & Operations Department said would only be 30 days, would include big events such as the Final Four, Fiesta and New Year’s Eve celebrations, among others.
Fast Facts:
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The proposed increase would raise event rates from $11 to $15 at eight city-owned garages and lots, and from $8 to $10 at one city-owned lot.
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The proposed new event rates are significantly less than what most privately owned parking facilities charge for public event parking. These facilities often charge $20-40 for special event parking. The event rate will not be in effect at all city parking facilities for certain smaller events. For example, a special event at Market Square might cause the event rate to go into effect at the Market Square lot, but not at another garage on the other side of downtown.
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Part of the reason for the proposed changes is due to wear-and-tear on the cash machines having to make dollar change for the current $11 or $8 event rates. When machines have to give $9 in change for a $20 bill, they require more maintenance and can malfunction. Raising the price to a multiple of five reduces the amount of change and future maintenance costs and keeps up with the changing downtown parking market.
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The increases are expected to generate approximately $129,000 in revenue for the parking fund.
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The funding will be used for technology enhancements and physical upgrades to city-owned parking facilities to improve the parking experience for downtown visitors.
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These improvements will include the ability for people to pay for parking using a mobile device that also shows drivers where parking is available.
The City Council is expected to vote to approve the fiscal year 2019 budget on Sept. 13.
For more information about the City’s free parking programs and a full list of city-owned lots and garages, along with pricing, click here.
