Cincinnati is increasing parking meter rates in parts of Downtown and Over-the-Rhine starting Tuesday. The city released the information Thursday along with a map highlighting the changes.
City Manager Harry Black said the new rates reflect "dynamic pricing."
“We can look at usage across the city, and as a result, we can make pricing decisions on demand that allows us to achieve our revenue goals while at the same time meeting the parking needs of the public,” Black said.
Black said the city reviewed usage from the last couple of months to determine the new rates. Rates will increase at high usage locations, and decrease in low usage areas. About 1,100 meters will see a 25 cent increase, about 560 will decrease by a quarter and another 260 will have no rate change.
Starting Tuesday, April 7, per hour pricing will be as follows:
- $1.25 in the southeastern area of Over-the-Rhine
- $0.75 in the southwestern and northwestern areas of Over-the-Rhine
- $2.25 on the eastern side of the Central Business District
- $1.75 in the northwestern area of the Central Business District
- $2.00 in the southwestern area of the Central Business District
Currently rates are generally $2 per hour south of Central Parkway, and $1 per hour north of Central Parkway.
Another change will allow people to park for up to four hours at a meter in some parts of Downtown and Over-the-Rhine.
Black also said the popular 10-minutes for free option will be changing on Central Business District parking meters.
“Meters will continue to offer the 10-minute free grace period,” Black said. “However, if additional time is purchased during those first ten minutes the meter will zero out the free minutes, only the purchased time will appear.”
The city is counting on parking meter revenue to help pay for the operating costs of the city's streetcar system, which is currently under construction and scheduled to begin passenger service in September 2016.
