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SALT LAKE CITY — It may cost more to park in downtown Salt Lake City, but the city doesn’t have extra cash to show for it. In fact, revenue is off by $1.5 million.
In 2012, rates went up 50 cents to $2 an hour. Enforcement hours increased to 8 p.m., and more automated kiosks were added.
"Parking is more available now than it was before we changed the hours," said Downtown Alliance Executive Director Jason Mathis last August.
The City Council projected the actions should have raised parking revenue by $1 million a year. But it’s now down by $1.5 million.
The city wants to figure out if the shortfall is due to fewer parking tickets being issued, more people using TRAX, fewer people visiting downtown or something else. They do think more people are parking in newer, private parking garages like City Creek and The Gateway.
A survey last year showed just a handful of people polled said they avoid downtown because of the parking.
"If we can learn a little bit about what people might be struggling with, we can do a better job," Transportation Director Robin Hutcheson said last August.
Council members on Feb. 4 requested additional information regarding the decrease in parking ticket revenue and use of parking stations. As soon as the administration reviews the information, it will be forwarded to the council.
