Waco staff propose paid parking at regional airport to reduce city subsidy

Airport Manager James Harris told the Waco City Council during a Sept. 2 work session that staff plans to implement paid parking at Waco Regional Airport beginning Oct. 1, with a $5-per-day rate capped at $25 per week and a three‑year phased increase to $9 per day by Oct. 27, 2027. The plan uses ParkMobile for payments and includes on‑site signage, wayfinding and a communications campaign.

The proposal is framed as a revenue strategy to reduce the airport’s reliance on general‑fund subsidies and move the airport toward financial self‑sufficiency. “Implementing the parking fees moves us closer to become self reliant and less reliant on a subsidy from the city,” Airport Manager James Harris said.

Harris said Waco is one of three commercial-service airports in Texas that did not charge for parking; most U.S. commercial airports do. The staff proposal sets a free curbside pick‑up/drop‑off zone with two hours of free parking, and designates long‑term, employee and rental‑car areas as paid lots. ParkMobile will provide signage and a zone number; users can pay via app, website or phone and extend parking remotely.

Staff presented revenue scenarios based on current occupancy. At a year‑round 40% occupancy the city would collect roughly $402,000 annually; at full occupancy staff estimated revenue could exceed $800,000. Harris said there would be no upfront implementation cost to the city for the ParkMobile software; ParkMobile provides basic signage and the airport will add wayfinding signs. Staff also noted merchant transaction fees — examples in the presentation included a 20¢ plus 3% card fee and a 40¢ per‑transaction merchant fee — and modeled net revenue conservatively.

Enforcement and operations: Harris said the airport already has 24‑hour security coverage and existing staff will monitor lots; the team will evaluate whether additional personnel are needed after initial implementation. The city attorney and manager confirmed the plan relies on routine staff enforcement rather than a new enforcement contract. Harris also described a marketing and outreach plan that includes social media, local media interviews, billboards and outreach to business partners and Baylor for the football season.

Council members asked about features and future pricing. Questions included whether short‑term front‑lot pricing would be tiered and whether the weekly cap would change as rates increase; Harris said those are items for future policy discussions and that staff would return with evaluations after an initial operating period. Council members suggested working with the Chamber of Commerce and the Baylor community and requested prominent advance notice for travelers.

Next steps: staff said it would implement the communications plan immediately if Council approves and begin signage and ParkMobile setup, with the target first day of paid parking of Oct. 1. Harris said staff would evaluate results beginning Nov. 1 and report back on compliance, occupancy and whether additional staffing or adjustments are required.