MTA considers increasing parking fees at Metro-North stations

You could soon be paying more to park at Metro-North train stations.
The MTA is considering increasing fees at 25 station parking facilities that are owned or controlled by the Metro-North railroad. The increase, if approved, would take effect on Jan. 1 of next year. The fee increase would impact commuters east of the Hudson River, including the Harlem, Hudson and New Haven lines.
According to the proposal, permit holders for 16-hour parking will pay an average of $42.75 more annually, equivalent to 12 cents a day.
However, for commuters in North White Plains, the 13.8% increase would have drivers paying $1,250 a year.  That's an increase of $114 annually and it is the biggest jump out of all the 25 stations owned by Metro-North.
Customers who use daily meters will pay an average of $14.17 more monthly, with the meters increasing by 50 to 75 cents for 16-hour parking.
The cost per month for having a second vehicle on the permit will go up by $2 a month.
Metro-North says it's also looking to charge regular daily fees on Saturdays. Sundays and certain holidays would remain free, which applies to both the east and west sides of the Hudson River.
Both actions would raise Metro-North's revenue by $965,000 annually. It says the money could be used to cover rising operations and maintenance costs.
The MTA says the proposal is a way to raise revenue and stay competitive with neighboring facilities.
If the proposal is passed, it would be the first time Metro-North increased its parking prices since 2013. The proposed increases need the approval of the MTA board which is scheduled to meet later this week.
Commuters at the North White Plains station tell News 12 they are not happy about the proposal. "If I have to pay for parking, it might be more challenging coming to North White Plains then," says one commuter.