Business
Proposal Monday could end free evening, Saturday parking in downtown La Crosse ramps
The hours when you have to pay to park in La Crosse’s downtown ramps could be expanded Monday.
City police suggest the $1 per-hour parking rate in the ramps be increased by four hours on weekdays, and extended to Saturdays, as well.
OLD HOURS
6 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday
NEW HOURS
6-10 p.m. Monday-Saturday
COST: $1 per hour
The La Crosse Board of Public Works will consider the proposal at its weekly 10 a.m. meeting Monday.
A study determined that the added hours could bring in an extra $225,000 a year.
The rule proposal comes almost exactly two years after the board agreed to end the free grace period in the parking ramps and begin charging for those first two hours.
The city had allowed a free period in the ramps on weekdays for about 20 years.
Two weeks ago, WIZM’s La Crosse Talk spoke with La Crosse Assistance Police Chief Jason Melby about parking.
The police are in charge of the parking utility. Melby discussed how a rise in remote work from downtown businesses and debt owed on the parking ramps has put the utility in a bind.
La Crosse Talk PM airs weekdays at 5:06 p.m. Listen on the WIZM app, online here, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find all the podcasts here or subscribe to La Crosse Talk PM wherever you get your podcasts.
Julie Greeno
December 15, 2024 at 5:56 pm
As an employee of a business in downtown La Crosse this is concerning to me as well as my coworkers. Many of us are stretched financially. This will be an added expense we cannot afford. In the least provide parking for those of us working downtown. In addition, I believe if this proposal is passed it will negatively impact businesses in the downtown area.