"Parking in Calgary is more expensive than anywhere else in Canada. A survey by real estate services firm Colliers International this week says a typical parking spot in Calgary costs $375 a month. A similar spot in Toronto is about $300 a month. Calgary's thriving economy is driving up the demand for office space and that affects the cost of parking, said Keith Reading, a spokesman for Colliers.
The creation of more private and city-owned above-ground parking lots would help, but Reading says most of that space has disappeared."
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/sto...g-calgary.html
The City has always had a deliberate strategy to limit the # of parking spaces downtown to limit the strain on roads leading in, but the lack of spaces to build parkades is true too - all those lots in Eau Claire are now worksites - there's just not that much bare land.
I think the story's a little skewed though, $375 is probably for underground secured in a office tower. Park on the south side of the tracks and walk a bit - I think spaces can be had for about $200 or so. Lots of early bird non reserved spots are around for what, $14 a day? (300 a month)
Before we get a ton of replies on this I'll say it now - we all know that transit sucks right now, and that capacity and comfort just aren't there at rush hour. Although I tend to blame the Province more for that as you can't build what you don't have money for.
Thankfully, I walk to work. We debated moving to the burbs but figured a 2nd car would be needed. We then figured out how much we'd spend in a month on car payments, insurance, and parking and if you add that to your mortgage payment you'd be surprised at how much more you can afford housing wise. (Not that inner city life is for everyone though)
Calgary parking hits $375/month
