By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-879618.mp3
Dallas, TX –
In Fort Worth today, city council members will talk about a big change for "parking" at the Will Rogers Coliseum. KERA's BJ Austin says it's always been free for most events at the Coliseum and surrounding museums. But that's about to change.
The Fort Worth City Council, today, could name an operator to run the new parking garage and surface lots at the Will Rogers complex. And for the first time, "charge" for parking. How much is still to be determined, but Jason Lamers, with the city, says it'll probably be about five dollars. He says the money will pay for the new 32 million dollar, 11-hundred space Western Heritage parking garage.
Lamers: If you look at the Dallas Convention Center, the American Airlines Center, Gaylord Texan, Nokia Theatre there's paid parking almost everywhere. The Will Rogers complex has been free forever, and it's going to be a big change.
Neighbors worry people who don't want to pay will park along their streets, creating a problem worse than the current "overflow" parking because of lack of spaces. Lamers says the city hopes to have price and other details worked out by the end of the Stock Show next month. By the way, the Stock Show has always charged for parking. It starts Friday.