The Connection

Starting in September, Arlingtonians hoping for on-street parking should begin saving those extra quarters. In a unanimous vote at its May 16 meeting, the County Board approved a 25 cent-per-hour increase in metered parking rates. However, the board deferred a vote on the more controversial extension of operating hours until it receives a more detailed analysis of the extension’s effects.

The new maximum hourly rate for metered long-term parking (four hours or more) will increase from $1 per hour to $1.25, while the maximum short-term hourly rate will increase from $1.25 to $1.50.

“We do need to do an assessment of existing conditions,” said Parking Manager Michael Connor, “and while it’s healthy to look at what our adjacent [communities] are doing, it’s more important to look internally at what we’re doing.”

Connor said the core issue driving the meter increase is that the on-street parking increase is much less expensive than the empty parking garages. Connor said the meter increases are part of an effort to drive more Arlingtonians into the nearby garages. In Arlington, off-street parking varies from $4 to $6 hourly or $110 to $175 monthly. These rates are lower than D.C.’s, whose garages regularly charge $6 to $12 hourly or $160 to $320 monthly. Garage parking in neighbouring Alexandria ranges from $2.5 to $8 hourly or $170 to $200 monthly. Meanwhile, Arlington’s on street $1 short-term parking is a full dollar cheaper than D.C.’s $2 on street parking. The new $1.25 rate will bring it closer to Alexandria’s $1.75 per hour but will still leave Arlington the cheapest in the region for on-street parking.

The more controversial vote was the extension of metered hours. Currently, Arlington parking meters are in effect from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. However, the proposed action would extend meter hours until 8 p.m. While the meter increase was unanimously approved by the Transportation Commission, at the group’s April 2 meeting, the meter hours were deferred until more information could be presented on current parking capabilities.

At a second Transportation Commission meeting, the meter extension passed in a 7-2 vote.

“On street parking is a finite resource, so pricing is what we use in order to efficiently allocate that,” said Chris Slatt, chairman of the Arlington Transportation Commission. “By not enforcing meters during peak demand, we’re effectively giving away this valuable resource for free, so we shouldn’t be surprised when we run out.

According to Connor, the proposed meter extensions aim to reduce the 85-100 percent parking capacity found in parts of the county during the 6-8 p.m. time frame.

“We believe this is driven by a combination of restaurant employees who feed the meter for two hours,” said Connor, “and residents who, upon coming home, decide not to park in the garage because a space is free on the street.”

However, Connor acknowledged that confirmation of this theory is contingent on the results of the ongoing meter performance study scheduled for completion by the end of June. According to Connor, the next stage of testing will look at turnover and duration of car stays in on-street parking.

“I don’t think we’re done [studying this] and I’m reluctant to approve an increase in hours while we’re still in the development phase,” said County Board member John Vihstadt.

County Board member Jay Fisette also expressed concerns that the parking hours extension was being considered without working to find a solution with the local business community. Fisette referenced previous deals between federal departments formerly located in the region, like Department of Homeland Security, and local businesses to allow usage of the department’s garages on nights and weekends.

Following the vote, members of the business community expressed mixed feelings towards the decision.

“The meter rate increase is inevitable and it’s sensible,” said Greg Cahill, president of the Clarendon Business Association. “But extending the meter hours later will be detrimental. More people are going to get tickets and they can go to other places where they won’t, like Tyson’s. That’s bad for local business.”

Cahill also listed alternative plans for the County Board to consider, including testing an entirely free parking program in the area and taxing the additional sales. Cahill agreed with Connor’s assessment that employees park and feed the meter until after 6 p.m. But like Fisette, Cahill said he believes local businesses could reach a deal with nearby garages to arrange a discounted rate for employee parking. Cahill also said many restaurants would be interested in promoting local garages or having a discount program.