The cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul are asking lawmakers to put a new tool in their toolbox, so to speak: a parking surcharge that could eventually fund downtown amenities like pedestrian walkways and bike paths.
Proposed legislation would allow the Twin Cities to impose a tax on non-metered parking, including stalls in public and private ramps and surface lots, within a defined area of their respective downtowns.
Here's the skinny on where the parking surcharge stands now, courtesy of the Scoop's fine friends over at the Political Animal blog.
The legislation was cooked up by Minneapolis, but St. Paul is on board.
If the language passes, how much more will drivers pay to park in downtown St. Paul ramps and lots? Right now, the answer is nothing. The city hasn't decided on the amount of surcharge, or even if it wants to impose one at all.
"The legislation lets us decide if we want to charge one, what it would be and what we would use it for," said Jonathon Sage-Martinson, director of the city's Department of Planning and Economic Development. "If it passes, we haven't decided whether we'll use it and what we would use it for."
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