Parking Meter Rates Jump In Downtown Lexington

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Posted: 9:12 AM Jan 5, 2009
Last Updated: 6:25 PM Jan 5, 2009
Reporter: Janet Kim
Email Address: janet.kim@wkyt.com

17 comments

Downtown Parking Meter Costs Go Up In Lexington

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Beginning Monday, get ready to dig a little deeper the next time you park around downtown Lexington.

Parking meter prices will go up from 25 cents an hour to a dollar per hour.

It's a 400% jump.

That includes Vine, Main, Short and all intersecting streets.

Some meters in peripheral areas, within a few blocks of downtown, will be at a reduced rate of 50-cents per hour.

Parking authorities say the last rate increase took place in 1983, and they say the turnover in parking spaces will improve flow of new customers for businesses.

But some disagree, including downtown business owners like Merits Furniture Owner Stanley Hitchner who fears the rate increase will deter people from coming downtown.

Parking authorities say the price increase will help pay for improvements in parking like the solar powered Pay & Display meters and parking enforcement.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Businesslady Location: Lexington on Jan 7, 2009 at 10:15 AM
This just came to mind as well, we are fortunate enough to live in a city where you can have vehicles and it won't cost you and arm and a leg to park them at your own home(remember in NYC, in the actual city everyone lives in apartments, condo's etc so if you want to own a car, it's just overall more inconvenient which is why I paid 2500 for a parking space) We have public transportation such as cabs and buses and you can also carpool with people you work with.... it may be a minor inconvenience but I promise, it could be much worse.

Posted by: Businesslady Location: Lexington on Jan 6, 2009 at 11:23 PM
Hey it could be worse, in NYC I paid 2500.00 for a year for a parking space! Try to sell the parking spaces in the garages to the folks who work downtown and then anyone who just has to run down to take care of some business can pay the $1 per hour fee.

Posted by: clay on Jan 6, 2009 at 01:57 PM
Increase it another dollar to pay for the strip club.

Posted by: Nathan A. on Jan 6, 2009 at 01:14 PM
Hey folks, it's the city and Lexington is showing signs that they are broke or maybe not. Maybe we are blind and that Lexington has plenty of money but are greedy anyway. How do you think they make their money? Off of YOU!

Posted by: Brenda Location: Lexington on Jan 5, 2009 at 10:54 PM
You are kidding......$1 an hour. We are not Chicago nor are we New York. We need to lower it to a nickel an hour to give the downtown workers a breath of fresh air. I am paying $65 a month to park just so I can go to work. What a rip off this city is becoming. What in the world is worth paying a buck an hour to go see???

Posted by: jack Location: winchester on Jan 5, 2009 at 09:46 PM
Look, whenever you go downtown during the week between 8-5 there is NEVER a place to park because of the meter feeders who work downtown anyway. I'd pay a buck to park and have lunch or whatever.

Posted by: Stanley-Simmons Location: Lexington on Jan 5, 2009 at 05:40 PM
I lived in St. Louis and this town is a bargan in just about everyway. Get over it, there is a lot worse out there.

Posted by: Fred Location: Lexington on Jan 5, 2009 at 04:27 PM
Sandra - please don't visit any big cities. Last time I was in Chicago, $25 for one hour in a garage downtown. Passed it up for a $15 dollar lot. We should consider ourselves lucky.

Posted by: Zatoichi Location: Richmond on Jan 5, 2009 at 03:30 PM
Hey folks, only rich people have cars anyway so why not soak them with a big meter fee? Once we get our stimulus check all we poor folks can get us a new Escalade and park downtown too.

Posted by: Danielle Location: Lexington on Jan 5, 2009 at 03:15 PM
A&E's Parking Wars, here we come! This isn't the way to go to get more people to come downtown.

Posted by: Christine Location: Downtown on Jan 5, 2009 at 02:46 PM
I live and work downtown and I have to pay an already outrageous parking bill. All of the free spots are always taken so I can't go to the grocery store without worrying that my spot is going to be taken. What a place to live. I have to worry about getting a free parking spot instead of feeding my family.

Posted by: JR on Jan 5, 2009 at 01:31 PM
Since I never go downtown anyway, as far as I am concerned make it 5$ an hour. Downtown is dead, might as well just nail the coffin shut.

Posted by: Nicole Location: Lexington on Jan 5, 2009 at 12:02 PM
Boo hoo Thomas. This is ridiculous. Honestly, a dollar for an hour??? Lexington, get over yourself. How did you come to that conclusion??? You are not Chicago or New York. Take the prices back down.

Posted by: Sandra Location: Lexington, KY on Jan 5, 2009 at 11:40 AM
Okay, I understand that rates have been unchanged since 1983, but raising them to $1.00 an hour? That's just insane!

Posted by: lexgirl Location: lexington on Jan 5, 2009 at 11:00 AM
Boy! That will really make me want to visit, eat or shop downtown now.

Posted by: Thomas Location: Lexington on Jan 5, 2009 at 10:24 AM
I hope the city brings out the booting for repeat offenders who refuse to pay fines. Maybe the $1 per hour will stymie the meter feeders who think they own a parking space from 8am-5pm M-F. Maybe A&E Network could come to Lexington to film several episodes of Parking Wars.

Posted by: mike on Jan 5, 2009 at 10:23 AM
just goes to show, the city is not even remotely interested in people coming to downtown, they just want the money-its pure and simple, the city of lexington does not care about its citizens, and it shows more and more each day

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