Fitzroy and Queen Street parkades to increase $15 April 1, 2010

We heard this evening from an unnamed source in Charlottetown City Hall that the City has listened to criticism of the 50% rate increase scheduled for March 1st, 2010.

Yesterday at noon, we voiced the comments we heard on the street City of Charlottetown gouging drivers At 6 pm CBC Compass carried the story (below). The City heard the outcry and responded.

The Fitzroy and Queen Street Parkade will increase but not until April 1st, 2010 and the increase will be $15 not $30 per month. The City will delay for additional $15 for 6 to 12 months depending on feedback it gets from the parkade customers.

Pownal Parkade will remain at $60 per month. The City is also working to make Pownal Parkade brighter and more accessible to people. The lighting inside and out is being improved to enhance public safety. We didn’t hear if security would be beefed up at Pownal.

According to our source, the City is not recovering 60% of its operating costs from the parkades and needs to increase the contribution from users.

“If we are subsidizing anything in Charlottetown, it should be public transportation,” said a source close to City Council. “People who like the convenience of sheltered parking will have to pay a little more.”

The City says it would take considerably more of an increase to break even on the parkades and that is not its intention.