Monthly parkers and meter violators face higher rates in Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS - Monthly parkers and meter parking violators will pay more in the new year, the company that operates the Cedar Rapids downtown parking system announced Tuesday.

The price increases raise the penalty for a meter violation from $7.50 to $10.

Monthly parking rates will increase from $52 to $55 for parkers in the Fourth Avenue Parkade; from $50 to $55 for those in the Five Seasons Parkade; and from $30 to $35 for those in Lot 44.

Reserved monthly parking rates will go to $110 a month in all parking facilities. This is a $5 a month increase for those who use the South Side Ramp and Convention Center Ramp, but it is an increase of between $15 and $35 a month for parkers in other facilities.

The city leases its downtown parking system to Downtown Parking Management Inc., which has a five-member board. Two of the five are named by the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, two are members of the downtown Self-Supported Municipal Improvement District and the fifth is picked by the other four.

The five-member board approved the rate increases, board member Doug Neumann, executive vice president of the Metro Economic Alliance, said Tuesday.

Park Cedar Rapids, the company that operates the system, said the increases are necessary to support and improve the parking system. The system is self-sustaining, the company said.