2 days Ago By Bruce Finley
Denver International Airport officials are planning to build a new 5,200-space parking lot on 35 acres of farmland northeast of the city, and they’re raising rates for public parking at the airport by as much as 25%, starting May 14.For example, parking in the Pikes Peak and Longs Peak shuttle lots will cost $10 a day, up from $8.The new lot, east of the Pikes Peak Lot and linked by shuttles to DIA’s terminal, will replace the Longs Peak lot and add 2,200 spaces at DIA, airport officials told the Denver Post.
That means more than 52,200 parking spaces overall, about 40,200 of them available to the public.DIA currently runs 11 parking facilities, including the short-term east and west areas, the east and west garages, east and west economy lots, and the Pikes Peak and Longs Peak shuttle lots. DIA also runs a lot at 61st Avenue and Peña Boulevard, and a cell phone lot for people waiting to pick up passengers.
City records show DIA collected about $220 million last year in revenue ($2.73 billion since 2015) from parking at the airport. The annual revenue is down from $386 million in 2019.
DIA officials said parking transactions decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, then recovered to more than 4 million a year. Travelers also rely increasingly on public transit and ride-share options to reach DIA, and off-site parking facilities have opened since 2019 near the airport.The parking rate hike is calculated to raise an additional $3 million monthly.
Airport officials said they need that because the costs of managing parking lots and running shuttles have increased by about 45%. They’re planning upgrades, such as a $7 million project to install 200 new surveillance cameras in parking lots.Parking rate hikes will let DIA “continue investing in its parking facilities,” DIA senior vice president of parking and commercial transportation Mark Nagel said in a statement.
It’s been nearly three years since DIA increased parking rates.Related ArticlesEngine of United flight diverted to DIA on Sunday caught fireDIA again ranked as one of the busiest airports in the worldUnited flight diverted back to DIA after possible “wildlife strike”12 local restaurants open — or opening soon — at Denver International AirportEditorial: Could these two Peña Boulevard alternatives work? For $15 million let’s find out.Travelers needing to park at DIA will have the following options:— Garage parking: $35/day (up by $5)— Economy lots: $20/day (up by $2)— Pikes Peak shuttle lot: $10/day (up by $2)— Longs Peak shuttle lot: $10/day (up by $2)— 61st and Peña lot: $6 for 12 hours or $8/day (up by $1)— Short-term parking: $7/hour or $168/day (no change)— Premium lots: $45/day (decreased by $5).
