Debbie Klein is Sky Harbor International Airport's acting parking superintendent. Here she talks about why airport officials are considering raising rates and why there has been such a parking crunch.
1. How would you characterize the parking situation at Sky Harbor?
It's definitely gotten worse in the last year. Before then, we didn't have to use our overflow lots except on holidays, but last summer we'd been in overflow every weekend, starting on Friday. This year, it just continued to escalate.
2. You seem to suggest that parking is a good "deal" at Sky Harbor. Why do you think the rates are too low?
I definitely think they are. We looked at what other airports are charging, and we looked at what the parking vendors are charging around us. In comparison to them, and in comparison to what we are seeing nationally, we are definitely low.
3. How did it get to this point?
I think it is because rate increases have happened so infrequently. I think we are going to need to take more significant action this time, because we just can't keep up with the way we are going. The last rate increase was in 2002, and it was incremental -- we basically raised the rates about a dollar -- to $5 in the surface economy lots and $7 in garage.
4. How much of a rate increase are you considering?
We haven't decided that definitely yet, so I really can't say. But I would say not just $1. It is going to go up more than a dollar. Without making them higher, we aren't going to make an impact on demand -- and we need to curb demand. Either way, I would hope that we would have new rates in place by January.
5. Can people contact the airport if they have questions or want to make a comment about the proposal?
Absolutely. We get a lot of input through the airport's Web site -- www.phxskyharbor.com or contact the Aviation Department directly at (602) 273-3321.
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CAPTION: Debbie Klein
