Red Deer hospital parking fees rising
Patients, visitors and staff will slowly see an increase in parking fees at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre starting April 1.
Increases will be phased in over three years to reduce the impact to users.
For example, 30-minute parking fees for outdoor public parking will increase to $1 from 75 cents next month, and will increase again to $1.25 in April 2015.
The daily maximum will increase to $9 from $8 in April 2014.
Thirty-minute parking fees for public underground parking will increase to $1.25 from $1 in April 2015.
“When you look at the rates for public parking it’s pretty reasonable for a three-year phased approach,” said Steven Keevill, executive director for capital management, Alberta Health Services Central Zone, on Thursday.
Monthly parking passes for patients and visitors won’t increase at all and will remain at $60 to assist long-term patients and visitors.
Monthly parking passes for others, now at $60, will increase each year until it reaches $70.
Weekly passes will also increase to $33 from $30 in April 2014 and climb to $39 by April 2015.
AHS parking rates have not increased since 2010 and are being adjusted to reflect current market conditions.
AHS parking facilities are self-sustaining.
Health care dollars are used to fund patient care services — not parking structures or lots that charge for parking.
In 2011-12, AHS saw $54.6 million from parking revenues across the province, with $46.8 million in expenses. The $7.8 million surplus went towards maintaining parking structures, upgrades and for any new parkades.
Keevill said in the future the parking surplus will pay for a much-needed 1,100-stall parkade for the Red Deer hospital.
“We’re just in the early phase of getting moving on that design. Right now, we’re committed to having the design done by the end of this year so I can’t yet speak on the construction piece.”
Upgrades are also planned for the hospital’s existing underground parking to improve the lighting and make it more energy-efficient, he said.
For details on parking rates visit http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/5505.asp.
Rate changes were posted in public areas at all facilities that charge for parking and on the AHS website on Feb. 13.
szielinski@reddeeradvocate.com
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