The Chicago Transit Board has approved an increase in parking fees at several Park & Ride lots and Under-‘L’ lots to generate new CTA revenue.
That means starting November 1st, drivers will be required to pay an extra $1 per day at some lots. Those who park every day say it will affect their budget.
"It's going cost me an extra $300 a year probably, because I park here every day," said Andy Achino, a Park-and-Ride user at the Harlem/Higgins lot. "For work, five days a week, that's a lot of money."
The increase will occur at some of the more popular parking lots, including Cumberland and Harlem/Higgins off the Blue Line and Midway off the Orange Line.
But at other, less popular lots, the daily cost will decrease, including lots from Polk to California off the Pink Line and from 35th to 47th off the Green Line.
The CTA also will provide new monthly parking at Orange Line Park & Ride lots at Halsted/Archer, 35th/Archer, Western/49th and 48th/Kedzie.
The adjustments are estimated to generate an additional $90,000 per year.
“Rates at locations where demand is high can increase to reflect demand, while sites where lots are not full can decrease to attract additional customers," CTA President Forrest Claypool in a statement. "Adding a monthly parking option allows customers to select the option that is best suited to their needs.”
In other transit news, Pace riders have reason to smile. They won't see fare increases or service cuts next year, according to transit officials. Pace even expects to buy more than 160 new buses thanks to increased ridership and a carefully managed budget.
