Parking Changes Loom for VRE Commuters

Parking fees for some customers of Fredericksburg's Sophia Street Parking Garage are on the rise.

Last night, the Fredericksburg City Council unanimously approved increases in the 24 hour early bird rate from $4 to $5 and the monthly parking rate from $60 to $70. But the council also approved an amendment to the measure from Ward 2 Councilor George Solley increasing the complimentary time allowed for daily parking customers from 2 hours to 3 hours.

The early bird rate applies to motorists who park between 4 and 10 a.m., Monday through Friday. Motorists who park afterwards,–daily rate customers–will be able to park for free for 3 hours plus $1 for every additional hour parked (up to a maximum of $8). Solley said that the complimentary daily rate extension would encourage the use of the garage, freeing up parking elsewhere.

The parking garage has 297 spaces, 80 of which are leased to the Courtyard Marriott Hotel.

Monthly passes only fill about 11 percent of the garage's parking spaces. Daily rate customers, mostly weekday commuters, take up 17 percent of the garage's capacity  on average.

The early bird rate increase will go into effect on Jan. 15, 2012. The monthly rate will go into effect on Feb. 1, 2012.

According to estimates provided by city staff, annual revenues for the garage will increase by $25,000. However those projections don't account for potential loss of customers.

"Increasing the price may cause current customers to leave the garage," reads a memo to City Council outlining the rate increases.

Any additional revenue generated by the rate increases will be used to fund garage operations and pay down construction debt on the six-year-old garage.

VRE Customers Lose Lot F

Virginia Rail Express Commuters will also lose 34 prime parking spaces near the downtown train station.

Lot F, located near the intersection of Lafayette Blvd. and Caroline Street, will be off limits for VRE commuters starting on Tuesday, December 20.