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COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - The City of Columbia could see an increase in parking prices next year.

A spokesperson for the city said Columbia Parking Services plans on presenting parking research before the council. The research will suggest the need for improvements across parking services.

“I’d not like to see it go up because you want people to come downtown. Making it more expensive is, I think, the wrong way to go,” said Columbia resident Bob Moore when asked about the possibility of the price increases.

However, Columbia City Councilman Peter Brown said the increase would be necessary.

“It really does apply to just smart growth for any municipality and parking’s a big part of it,” said Brown.

Currently metered parking costs 75 cents an hour and $8 once the car exceeds the metered time.

Brown said it’s less about the meters and more about the infrastructure of city parking garages.

“We’re going to see we’re going to enter into and see tremendous growth over the next 5 to 10 years in Columbia. The concept that we need a new parking garage at Five Points. The concept that we’re going to need more different parking in the Vista and downtown,” said Brown. “I mean, we’re going to have to invest in our parking garages. In my opinion, they’re not up to, you know, what we really want a parking garage to represent for our city.”

Garage rates are $1 for the first two half hours and $1 for every additional hour with a maximum rate of $10 a day.

The City of Columbia said new prices for metered and garage parking have not been determined. But a city spokesperson said research gathered by Columbia Parking Services will be factored into future conversations surrounding the potential increase.

“You can find other ways to take care of repairs and that sort of thing,” Moore said.

“As Columbia grows, we’re not going to be able to be a city of parking lots anymore. We’re going to have to invest and become like cities that have,” Brown said.

A city spokesperson said the research will only be presented and will be allowed to have public comment in later council meetings before receiving approval.

If approved, the City of Columbia said the price increases could come as soon as January.

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