City considering parking garage fee change

Currently, if you park downtown in the City garages, the rate runs about 45 cents for the first half hour. However, the City of Rochester is trying to change the rate to not only help motorists who park “short term” but many of the area businesses that are served by the garages.

“We had a lot of inquiries from people who have offices downtown, retail shops, attorneys, architects,” says Carlos Carballada, the City’s Economic Development Commissioner.

The city is considering a major change, amending the parking rate from 45-cents to a free half hour.

“The recommendation is for the first 30 minutes that the garage would offer no charge to the public,” says Carballada.

The proposal also calls for adding a flat fee of two dollars for the next half hour, followed by an increase of 50 cents for each additional half hour, until reaching the daily maximum rate of $6.35.

“It would allow the short-term visit in and out sort of thing,” says Carballada.  

This year is the second year for holiday parking garage rates where weekends and parking after 6 p.m. is free.

“When you look at what we charge versus cities of comparable size and then cities like New York, Chicago and Los Angeles charge this is a real deal,” says Carballada.  

The change, if approved by City Council, would take effect March 1st.

“We're going to evaluate this over the first six months assuming the council approves this, we would evaluate its implementation over the first six months and take a look at it and see what's happening,” says Carballada.

Council scheduled to vote on the plan in Mid-January. Any extra money raised would go towards improving and maintaining the existing City garages.