Des Plaines council approves 50-cent hike in parking fees

Daily fees are going up at public parking lots in Des Plaines, under a measure approved unanimously Monday by the city council.

Effective Jan. 1, fees will rise from $1.50 to $2 at the Cumberland and downtown Metra stations and the Metropolitan Square parking garage.

Officials say the hike is needed to cover the costs of operating and maintaining the parking facilities. Director of Public Works and Engineering Tim Oakley said one of the parking lots needs resurfacing.

"We simply don't have the revenue to do that," he said.

The increase is expected to bring in an additional $40,000 a year in revenue for the city.

According to city documents, the Union Pacific Railroad owns the parking lots near the Metra stations, but the city is responsible for their operations and upkeep.

"The cost of maintaining the lots has increased," 7th Ward Alderman Don Smith said. "This (change) puts us in line with most communities. It's still, I believe, a pretty reasonable rate."

According to a city chart, the $2 daily fee would equal the cost of parking at Metra lots in Mount Prospect, Arlington Heights, Palatine and Park Ridge and be $1 less than in Barrington.

It's the city's first daily fee hike since 2009, when the rate went from $1.25 to $1.50, according to city documents.

Oakley said 40% of the commuters who use the Cumberland lot are Des Plaines residents. In the downtown area, he said, about half the commuters who use public lots are city residents.