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The partnership of private firms that operates Indianapolis’ parking meters plans to raise the hourly rate from $1.50 to $1.75 in downtown’s core, along Massachusetts Avenue and the Broad Ripple area.
ParkIndy says that the increase is the first bump in meter rates since 2012. The meters, representing about 45% of the city’s 4,211 total meters under management by ParkIndy, will begin levying the extra 25 cents per hour beginning April 1.
Through its contract with the city, ParkIndy is allowed to raise rates based on a formula involving the consumer price index for Midwestern urban areas, according to a spokeswoman.
The core downtown area—aka Zone 1—is generally bounded by New York Street to the north, West Street to the west, Alabama Street to the east and South Street to the south. It also includes Massachusetts Avenue and portions of several adjacent streets.
The rate for the remaining meters, which generally surround Zone 1 to the north, east and south, will stay at $1 per hour. The base rate for calculating meter fares for those areas (aka Zones 2 and 3) is lower than the base for Zone 1 and Broad Ripple, the spokeswoman said.
“While we can’t predict how the consumer price index will perform, we don’t anticipate rate changes to Zone 2 and Zone 3 in the near future,” said Alicia Thomas, assistant vice president of Indianapolis-based communications firm Sease Gerig & Associates.
The days and hours of meter operation will also remain the same: Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
In 2010, Indianapolis turned over operations of its parking meters to the ParkIndy consortium, which consists of Florham Park, New Jersey-based Conduent Inc. and the Indianapolis-based firms Denison Global Parking and Evens Time.
The city shares the parking revenue with ParkIndy. IBJ reported in 2019 that, of the more than $60 million collected through 2017, the city received $21.7 million and Park Indy received $38.7 million.
ParkIndy says it will provide notice of the pending rate changes on the pay box display screens, on its website and via social media.
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Too bad the city gave way control of the city parking meters during Mayor Ballard’s tenure. The 50 year parking meter contract was one of the worst things Indianapolis city government has ever done.
Scoff – BLUE INDY was the worst
I agree with you Paul O. It’s never a good idea to give a private company control over any aspect of the City’s public streets. If the City wants to close a street down to vehicle traffic for whatever reason, they have to send money to this private entity in order for the public to use our own public streets. It was very shortsighted.
Having said that Mayor Ballard and the City-County Council should not have entered the deal in the first place, Mayor Hogsett and his loyal CCC should’ve exercised the option to exit the deal at the 10-year mark. Unfortunately, we just get another 30 years (I believe it was a 40-year deal) of private fleecing of public assets, facilitated by both major political parties. Thanks Marion County Republicans and Democrats!
Ending the contract requires a large cash payment that can’t be bonded out. The contract is designed to not be canceled, and that is exclusively the blame of Ballard and the Republican council at the time.
Blue Indy was the best airport transport I’ve ever experienced. $10 one way with a station a block away from my residence. Didn’t have to share a bus or train with anybody, left at my own convenience (no schedule) and received prime garage parking at the airport. With that said, it was a poorly implemented program overall.
Recalling: Ballard likely took his cue from privitization-prince Steve Goldsmith who was much in evidence back in Indianapolis in those days. The deal was facilitated by Councilor Ryan Vaughn to take care of his Broad Ripple commercial pals. And remember: a big chunk of the proceeds ($6 million or so) from the meter companies went to “incent” Keystone Development to build the Broad Ripple parking garage which was a financial failure. We do not deserve the government which we get.
Love your alliteration there CK! Lest we also forget the same Keystone leased the city his S Madison Avenue building for DPW, Indy Parks, former Code Enforcement, permitting, etc., to occupy, while the City County Building is now about vacant looking for new tenants! We only deserve our government because our gullible voters keep their blinders on!
$0.25 for the first hike in 10 years is a pretty good deal. My other bills are going up a lot more right now…
I understand need to raise rates after ten years but downtown Indianapolis has not recovered from the pandemic and unrest. I hope this doesn’t just add one more log to fire of decline.
I think downtown Indy is recovering just fine. Vacant places filling up and some old favorites reopening their doors or about to soon. Add in all the new places popping up and being announced, I think downtown Indy can handle a parking rate increase of .25/hr just fine.
Any idea what the cost of parking violations are and if those are going up too?
Let me guess – supply chain issues? LOL
Clarke, will you forever be our communities curmudgeon of the century – always looking for some nefarious politician/citizen lining their own pockets. Maybe they are just trying to do a good job as opposed to you who simply takes pleasure in taking jabs at everything and everyone who is trying their best. PS – your own yard could use a little attention. Best regards, Don.
Clarke is absolutely right. Indianapolis has a long history of corporate welfare with developers, contractors, and law firms fleecing taxpayers to line their pockets. Clarke calls out the politicians who have allowed this to happen. He doesn’t care if they are Republican or Democrat when it comes to his well-justified criticism. I’m sorry, but those politicians are not trying to “do a good job.” They are selling out the taxpayers and its time someone stood up and held the politicians accountable.
Will the meters actually work???
I hope not….
It’s not a “good deal” when a private contractor is getting the taxpayers money.
Umm… how’s is a parking meter company getting a portion of the money you spend on parking any different than Marsh getting the money you spend on groceries. I fail to see what this has to do with taxpayers money. Or maybe you just needed to make this thread about that. Got it.
Bad deal for the City. If Indy is getting $21M and Parks are getting $39M, how much is the Third Party raking in? Bad timing to be increasing meter costs when Downtown Indy is struggling to attract people downtown!