Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation Parking topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
McAllen airport proposes parking rate changes, new lots and a reservation system to address heavy short-term use
Summary
Airport staff presented data showing that short-stay drop-offs dominate transactions but generate little revenue, proposed moving free 0-30 minute parking to a cell-phone lot, modest rate increases, a tenant-employee monthly rate and a reservation system, and asked the commission for direction ahead of a scheduled vote on rates.
Airport staff presented a data-driven proposal to restructure parking at McAllen's airport, citing frequent peak occupancy and a mismatch between transaction counts (many short visits) and revenue (driven by long-term stays).
The airport presenter (agency official) said short-term transactions (0-2 hours) account for most visits but represent a small portion of revenue, while long-stay users (24-48 hours) generate roughly 89% of revenue in some measures. "It's almost upside down when you're looking at the people that are needing to park to travel out the airport," the presenter said.
Planned construction: staff said two new lots (about 197 stalls and an additional 44 stalls adjacent to the taxicab stand) are under construction and expected to be completed by mid-September. The presenter noted the airport will add a bus stop and explore transit connections to reduce single-occupant car trips.
Proposed rate and operational changes: staff proposed moving the free 0-30 minute allowance from short-term lots to a dedicated cell-phone lot (under construction, about 44 spaces), charging $5 for short-term 0-1 hour on the short-term lot, modest increases for longer hourly and weekly rates (example: weekly from $60 to $72), a tenant-employee monthly rate (proposed $162/month), a daily-only $11 economy-lot rate, and piloting a reservation system as a customer-service enhancement.
Commissioners raised operational concerns about curbside drop-off and pickup behaviors that occupy short-term spaces and reduce revenue potential; the presenter and commissioners discussed how better signage, the cell-phone lot and a reservation system might help. A commissioner asked whether the FAA would fund parking decks (it would not); staff said structured parking would be fully city-funded and estimated elevated-stall cost at tens of thousands per stall compared with about $7,500 per surface stall.
Next steps: staff asked for direction and said the commission will vote on the new rate structure (implementation would roll out over several months) at an upcoming meeting. The workshop did not include a final vote on implementation timing.
