Raleigh eyes changes to parking fees

That's because city leaders are trying to push long-term parking to decks and lots off the street.

Eulanda Elliot is a frequent downtown visitor and she admits to “feeding the meter” on days when she needs more than the limit of two hours provided by parking meters.

“If your meeting is long ou have to come back down and put more money in,” she said.

Elliot is the kind of driver the City of Raleigh hopes to discourage by raising parking rates for on-street spaces.

That's something Marina Vandervort agrees with.

“I feel like (on-street parking) should only be for people coming in and out (and) parking a short time," she said. "People that are here for maybe two hours at a time, and that's it.”

Vandervort parks in a parking deck when she comes downtown, and the city is looking to lower rates there for people who park less than four hours.

City officials hope this will free up more on-street parking.

“That would be a great thing,” Vandervort said.

Around the corner at Apex Outfitter, General Manger Andrea Metidier stares out at the street parking.

"The parking can be a little bit tricky,” she said.

The store depends on foot traffic and street parking.

Metidier believes more expensive long-term street parking could result in more vehicle traffic.

“Street-side parking, turning it over quicker, is important because, people are in and out getting coffee or lunch,” Metidier said. "Or coming in the shop (and) picking something up. It's just and easier way to be closer to your destination.”

On-street parking rates could rise by a quarter per hour this year, and perhaps 25 to 50 cents again next year, and may top out at $2 per hour.

The city also wants to extend the pay-to-park time period until 8 p.m., keeping the two-hour limit through early dinner.

Charlie Ibarra doesn't see the extra charge as an issue.

“I usually have a 30 minute quick stop and I'm done,” he said.

And that's the exact way the new parking rates hope to function.

Monthly parking in city-owned decks would go up under the plan, bringing the rate more in line with private monthly parking spaces.

The change would take place in downtown, Glenwood South and along Hillsborough Street.​