LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — People driving into downtown Las Vegas for its famed First Friday of the month had to plan for two things that didn’t exist in October: an early sunset and higher parking fees.
The city announced plans to raise the cost of street parking by $1 an hour. Now it might cost as much as $4.00 every hour.
In a statement, the city said, “These important fees support the operation, maintenance, and improvements of parking infrastructure citywide, including new parking garages and parking facilities.
The city announced plans to raise the cost of street parking by $1 an hour. (KLAS)
While the city does all it can to resist fee increases, these were necessary to ensure there will be adequate parking for downtown visitors in the future.”
“I am very sympathetic to this,” Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley said at a press conference on Wednesday. “Nobody wants to pay for parking.”
But Berkely said she wasn’t changing or eliminating the fee, citing the need to pay for additional parking areas.
“I know that parking fee impacts people, but we’re giving the employees that work in the Arts District a break in their parking,” Berkely said.
But Leah Andrews, general manager of the popular pizza place Good Pie, said the additional parking fees are a burden for her employees.
“There is not enough parking to begin with down here,” Andrews said as business began to boom on First Friday. “It’s very stressful for employees that work in the arts district to try to find parking. Even the reserve parking that the city sets aside for us isn’t available.”
And Zulema Medina, who parked her Tesla Cybertruck on South Main Street – not far from Good Pie – paid the full, increased price at a kiosk that charged her card the max.
“I think it’s a little high, Medina said.
Medina said she might usually use a ride share service or a bus to get downtown, but Friday, she found a spot right across from the boutique she and her friend were going shopping.
“I’m a bit luckier than most people,” Medina admitted. “But for a lot of people, that’s like a whole lot more work.”
Those interested in more information on parking locations, monthly permits, citation payments, and First Friday parking can visit www.lasvegasnevada.gov/parking.
