Airport parking fees may increase
PRICE HIKE SOUGHT TO HELP PAY FOR ADDITIONAL SPACES
Parking rate increases in the range of 25 percent are proposed as part of plans to expand onairport parking at Will Rogers World Airport.
Rate increases would be greatest for long-term covered parking in Garages B and C, going from $7 per day to $9 per day, a hike of nearly 29 percent.
Covered surface parking in Lot 3 would go from $6 to $7. Uncovered parking in Lot 2 would go from $5 to $6 and in Lot 1, farthest from the terminal, from $4 to $5.
Short-term parking in Garage A closest to the terminal would remain the same at $1 per hour. Premium parking on the lower level of Garage A is an option.
Proposed addtions include a fourth garage with covered parking and a new 1,700-space surface lot, and could increase the total number of spaces by 50 percent or more.
In a report to the Airport Trust, consultants said the rate increases would bring in nearly $2.4 million in additional revenue in 2017.
In their report, the consultants from KimleyHorn said passenger boardings are expected to increase 1.7 percent per year for the next 20 years, to about 2.6 million per year.
The airport has about 6,900 parking spaces available for use at any given time. In peak summer months in June and July, demand for parking averages around 5,800 spaces per day.
Charts prepared by the consultants showed demand equals the supply of parking around spring
break. On Dec. 26, the busiest day of the year, the need for parking exceeds the supply.
The 2,700 long-term spaces in Garages B and C are full virtually yearround and some who want covered parking are being forced into surface lots.
Without new construction, available parking will dwindle in the next 10 years to near zero and demand for spots on the busiest day will exceed the supply by nearly 1,400 spaces.
The report recommends:
• Immediate parking rate increases to offset costs of initial improvements, including a new revenue collection system and new surface parking.
• Construction of a 1,700-space surface lot plus a 50-space cellphone lot on recently vacated car rental service lots west of the airport access road.
• Construction of a new five-level Garage D with 1,600 to 2,125 parking spaces.
The larger of the two garage options is projected to meet demand for long-term garage parking through 2036. Estimates are it would cost $48.3 million.
Oklahoma City’s parking garage rates, at $7 per day, are the lowest among eight “peer” airports.
Comparisons include Tulsa at $10, Tucson, Ariz., at $9, and Omaha, Neb., and Jacksonville, Fla., about $14.
At larger airports, garage rates include $24 at Minneapolis-St. Paul and, starting Sept. 1, $24 for “terminal” parking and $15 for more remote covered “express” garages at Dallas-Fort Worth.