Evening star., 1946-12-23

Cost Of Parking
In D. {. Found
AbovleAverage
Traffic Office Survey
Compares Rates Here
With Other Cities

Automobile parking rates in
Washington are higher than in most
cities of comparable size. officials of
the Office of Vehicles and Traffic
here said today. They based their
statement after survey OF the
Motor Vehicle Parking Agency here
and reports from other cities.
The principal increase here, ac-
cording to the agency, is in the all
day. parking rate, which jumped
from 60 cents to $1.10. All other
rates have risen, they learned, with
the lowest increase in the one and
two hour parking. In each Of these
cases the increase has been 5 cents
an hour.
When the three hour parking rates
were studied, it was learned that
the average increase was 10 cents
more than the garages and parking
lots charged before the controls
were lifted in october. The four
hour parkers now have to pay an
increase of Is cents over the former
prices.
AII-Day Parking Discouraged.
The, agency reported there is
general tendency among garage ana
parking lot managers to discourage
the all-day parker so that snort
time parkers, who are usually the
shopping and business crowd, can
get a better chance to find space.
Some of the parking places have
refused to accept automobiles before
$50 O'Clock in the morning on the
theory that those who park before
that time are employed in the down.
town section and leave their cars
parked for the entire day.
Evening and theater parking has
also been increased 5 cents while
there has been no change in the
Sunday and holiday rates.
The survey showed parking lot
prices on the so-called fringe area
lust outside the business section
have not changed their rates and
are enjoying a larger volume OF
business than before controls were
lifted.
Some operators are offering spe-
cial hotel pickup and delivery serv-
ice, making charge in addition
to the parking rate. The theater
pickup and delivery service which
was given before the war, how
ever, has not returned, and officials
believe there is no immediate pros
peot of its being revived.
Facilities Are Taxed.
The agency reported that even
with the increased prices, all park
lag facilities are crowded to capacity
at peak hours. The agency splans
to make another survey next month
when Christmas shopping crowds
viii not be a factor, in order to
show the trends in parking rates
which can be expected next year.
One parking lot operator, VINO
plans to have q place near a street.
car line has proposed a parking
ticket with two stubs attached en-
titling the parker to use the street.
car to his place of business or en-
ployment and to return, if he can
make the necessary arrangements
with the Capital Transit Co.
Reports from other cities showed:
In Newark, N. j., parking rates
vary lot to lot, but generally have
gone up 10 to Is cents since decon-
troll. Lots in the central business
area, which formerly obtained a
maximum of IS cents for IL hours
parking now get so cents. Those
further out which got IS and %
cents a day now get Is and IS cents.
Several parking places adjacent to
large department stores have dis
count of 10 per cent for shoppers
who have their tickets stamped by
the store.
Pittsburgh Price up Cents.
In Pittsburgh smaller lots trimming
the downtown area are up an aver
age of S cents since decontrol, max
ing the rates 80 to 40 cents for eight
hours. Most lots in the downtown
section now charge 35 cents for
three hours with cents for each
additional hour. Rates have gone
up from so to 60 and from 60 to 70
cents for IL hours and from Is cents
to a dollar for "a hours.
In Cleveland the present rates are
25 cents for one hour, two hours, 35
cents; up to five hours, so cents, and
more than five hours, rs cents. The
City Council is considering a bill to
license and bond parking lot opera
tors and other regulations including
the posting of prices.
In Cincinnati parking lot prices
changed November IL. The usual
increase was cents. and the maxi
mum all-day rate also increased
proportionately. One lot eliminated
the maximum and is now charging
25 cents for the first hour and 10
cents each additional hour. Park
ing garages generally are on a
r1nnnthlu basis