New garage at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City drives up price
The new parking rates are expected to bring in $1.5 million in revenue for the airport each year
From Staff Reports
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Published: November 4, 2009
The new five-story parking garage at Will Rogers World Airport is being met with rate hikes in nearly all the airport’s parking areas.
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How much will it be?
New parking rates at Will Rogers World Airport, effective Dec. 1
• Garage parking: $7 a day, an increase of $2.
• West canopy lot: $6 a day, an increase of $1.
• Lot north of the garages: $5 a day, an increase of $1.
• Surface lot on Amelia Earhart Lane: $4 a day, no change.
Beginning Dec. 1, parking in the garages will cost $7 daily, up from $5.
Surface parking rates will also cost more except in the lot on
Amelia Earhart Lane, which will remain $4 a day.
Airport trustees approved the rate increase last week after reviewing the results of a parking study, said
Mark Kranenburg, director of airports for
Oklahoma City.
"Our rates are still very, very low compared to the level of benefit and level of service we give to the customer,” he said.
With the exception of short term parking and parking in the west covered canopy lot, rates have not increased in 24 years, Kranenburg said.
A new, five-level parking garage opened to the public last week, adding 1,500 parking spaces at a cost of $20 million. The airport can now accommodate about 8,000 cars.
In both parking garages, travelers can access an underground tunnel connecting them to the terminal — a "fantastic asset” that keeps people out of inclement weather as they come into the airport, said Kranenburg.
Tamela Zuhars-McSwain said she travels through the airport six to 10 times a year and always believed the parking rates here were cheap.
"I moved here from
St. Louis and paid over $17 for daily parking. ...
Kansas City charges up to $15 for daily parking which is twice as far from the terminals as the open air lots at Will Rogers World Airport,” Zuhars-McSwain said. "I’m happy to pay the $7 if it means walking to the terminals and not having to take a shuttle.”
Other frequent fliers also aren’t really concerned about the rate increase and are relieved there’ll be more parking spaces.
"On several occasions, I had a very difficult time finding a parking place, which added an unexpected anxiety to the whole travel experience, wondering if I’d miss my flight because I was driving in circles,” said businesswoman
Darcie Harris. "No one feels happy about a price increase, but it’s a necessary part of every business.
"The improvements to our airport are beautiful, the parking and the facility are so much easier to navigate than other airports and, with our unpredictable weather, I’d rather pay a little more for covered parking than have my car out in the open.”
The new parking rates are expected to bring in an additional $1.5 million in revenue for the airport each year. Kranenburg said that will help offset the price tag on the new garage, as well as increased costs of parking personnel, shuttle vans and fuel.
"We’ve enhanced our parking operation in a big way, and you can’t do that without raising prices,” said Kranenburg.
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I agree James,Plano that it would be very convenient to have Pikepass accepted for parking fees like DFW does.
(off topic: James, we also have both because we are in Dallas quite a bit. Wish they could make one transponder for both systems).
Oh, the reason I mentioned it is that we drive each other to DFW to take trips. We don't mess with Will Rogers if we can avoid it. Especially if your airline routes you to DFW. Might was well drive down. Don't get me wrong, I have very strong emotions regarding Will Rogers. Growing up we met many a visiting relative there. The obs tower with airband radio was neat. The old Canteen machine that popped a cup,ice,syrup, and carbonated water was cool. We saw people from my church who drank in the airport bar to avoid being seen in OKC bars. Oh the very idea of that! But all that is gone post niner eleven.
As I do business in North Texas and Oklahoma, I have both transponders. They don't interfere with each other - the Toll Tag is the new stick on paper thin design - leave them side by side on the windshield - a real bonus. When OTA gets the new type of transponder - hold your breath - I've been told it will be Toll Tag compatible. After that, the two agencies may honor each others customers. I said MAY.