Got an extra quarter? Eugene bumps parking meters two bits
EUGENE, Ore. -- For the first time since 1999, the City of Eugene has increased hourly parking meter fees in the downtown area.
To park downtown, metered parking has increased from 75 cents to $1 an hour.
On Oct.15, daily fees for parking structures and garages will increase from $3.50 to $6 an hour.
City of Eugene parking services manager Jeff Petry says there are two main reasons for the increases.
"The parking fund is a standalone checking account for the City of Eugene, and we've gradually eaten up our reserves, putting it towards public safety and security we need downtown," said Petry. "We need the rates to support the checking account."
Petry said downtown development is also a factor.
"We have more employees working downtown, we have more people coming downtown. We have the same number of parking spaces so we use price to try to migrate people into the garage and off the streets," said Petry.
Last week, the City of Eugene increased metered parking in and around the University of Oregon. Metered parking fees rose from $1.50 to $1.70 per hour.
Overall, the combined parking fee increases will bring in an additional $520,000 each year.
Chelsea Heath works downtown and pays metered parking or in parking garages when she goes to work.
"It can get up to $50, $60 a month and yeah, it's frustrating. I think we should be charged but increasing it is not really fair," she said.
Eugene resident Stephen Ambrose said he doesn't mind the increase. "I think it's worth it. At least you can find a parking space. I lived in San Francisco for many years and I would get off work and I would drive around for an hour to find a parking place to where I lived," said Ambrose.
"It doesn't seem too expensive to me," said Springfield resident Brandie Davies. "I'd imagine it's more expensive in other places, in bigger cities, so it doesn't seem too out of line."
The only reason I go downtown Eugene, is when I am forced against my will to the court house..paying taxes,fees and other stuff like jury duty...other than that I exclusively go to SPFD...really no reason to go and pad the pockets of liberals and hippies...I guess they have me cornered for now
Downtown used to be a really fun place to go before the streets were replaced by the mall type walking areas. Now they even have meters in the alleys. Remember the old surplus store, the five and dimes stores, Quackenbush's and many other really good stores.  Strange that they need more money.
I have always avoided downtown like the plague. There is no upside to shopping or conducting business there. This is just one more nail in the coffin. The LTD and city idiots actually thought that putting the Taj Mahal of a bus station they built down there was going to bring in the shoppers. What a joke. Now Betty Taylor thinks the solution is "moveable chairs". HAHAHA...No joke, for those of you that missed it, she actually suggested that at a recent council meeting. Moveable chairs will solve the downtown crisis! hahahaha...Why oh why do you Eugene voters keep voting for this crap? You are turning Eugene into a laughing stock on the web.
'Please come downtown....please come downtown....please come downtown.....oh but we're going to make you pay more.'
Â
Geeez Eugene, get a clue would you please?!
Not a problem. Valley River Center, Oakway, Delta, River Road, West 11th and downtown Springfield parking rates are still the same; FREE! I can still pick up my Library books at Sheldon Branch so I have no need to go downtown.
One other advantage of not going to downtown Eugene....the noisy panhandlers are only on streetcorners in the rest of Eugene instead of blocking sidewalk traffic.