Should BART Charge More for Parking When Demand is High?

BART figures it costs the agency around $2 a day to maintain, illuminate and police each parking spot in its system. The daily rates riders pay run between $1 and $3. Monthly passes work out to $2 and $4 a day, and long-term parking is $5 a day in the East Bay and $6 in San Francisco and the Peninsula.

That price structure may change. Here’s what BART has to say about a plan to introduce market-based parking fees:

To cover the costs of providing parking, as well as to help renovate BART's aging infrastructure, keep the cost of BART fares down, and to improve BART service, BART is considering charging market-based fees for its parking spaces. This means that parking fees at a particular station would be based on the demand for parking at that station. At stations where parking lots are full, the parking fees may be increased up to two times per year. It is expected that daily fees at most stations would be increased in 50 cent increments, while monthly reserved parking would be increased by $10.50 (which works out to about 50 cents per day). If parking lots are no longer full, the fees would be decreased.

BART is also considering market-based fees with a price cap. With a price cap, it is expected that daily parking fees would range from $1 - $3 at most stations, based on demand. Monthly reserved parking would range from $42 - $126 at most stations, based on demand. 

What do you think about market-based fees? 

Do you think higher parking rates could cause drivers who might've used BART to simply stay in their cars and not use public transportation at all? 

Do you think it will make it easier to find parking during the morning commute?

Take BART's parking survey.