Berkeley raises parking meter rates, could charge on evenings and Sundays

"Berkeley plans to increase its maximum hourly rate on several blocks where the demand is highest including some in the Fourth Street shopping district, downtown and in the Southside neighborhood from $3.50 per hour to $4. Some meters in the North Shattuck area and near Alta Bates hospital, among other areas, will go up by 50 cents as well. The city is also raising the floor for parking rates, from as little as 50 cents per hour to a new minimum of $1.50."

"The council also gave Berkeley's Public Works Department the green light to study several ideas to squeeze more revenue out of its parking spaces. That could include extending the hours when meters are enforced from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., a time when public works staff wrote in a report that there are many blocks where parking spaces fill past the city's target of no more than 85% occupancy. That level of demand can lead to drivers circling in search of a space"

Berkeley will increase parking meter and garage fees effective March 1 to generate additional revenue. Maximum hourly rates on high-demand blocks will rise from $3.50 to $4, some meters will increase by $0.50, and the minimum rate will go from $0.50 to $1.50. City-owned garage hourly fees and monthly permit charges will also increase, and a Memorial Stadium gameday surcharge will apply. Officials estimate the changes will produce about $660,000 annually to help cover a projected $2 million parking fund shortfall tied partly to downtown garage debt. Public Works will study extending meter enforcement to 8 p.m. and other revenue options.

Read at www.berkeleyside.org