The Dubuque City Council has approved a staff recommendation to adjust rates in five of the City’s public parking ramps. The change is effective immediately. The new rate for ramps is a flat $1 per hour, with a daily maximum fee of $10.
Ramps with the new rate are the Locust Street Ramp, Iowa Street Ramp, Five Flags Ramp, Central Avenue Ramp, and Transit Center Ramp. Previously, hourly rates were $2 for the first hour and $.50 per hour thereafter, with a daily maximum of $8.
The rate change will facilitate the continued installation of a new parking control equipment which does not accept coins or dispense change in coins. The City is replacing existing parking control equipment with new equipment from a new vendor because the previously used vendor is no longer providing parking equipment, has ceased to support their software, and replacement parts have become difficult to obtain.
The new equipment accepts credit cards and paper currency only and dispenses only paper currency if change is required. Parking Division Manager Tim Horsfield said many of the new systems being installed in parking systems around the country are converting to a system that accepts credit cards only and no cash or coin. He said the City will continue to accept vouchers from any business that would like to pay for customer parking. Horsfield said the rate change is essentially revenue neutral, with the possibility of a slight increase in annual revenue.
The rate change does not apply to on-street parking meters or parking lots controlled by parking meters. For additional information on public parking options in Dubuque and payment options, visit www.cityofdubuque.org/parking or call 563-589-4266.