Altered airport parking said to be fair to drivers

Adrienne Packer

Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2001 | 9:11 a.m.

Airport officials say there has been no need so far for a plan to give a break in rates to short-term visitors forced to park in the long-term lot.

McCarran International Airport spokeswoman Debbie Millett said Monday the 300 short-term metered spaces in the long-term lot have yet to fill up.

Motorists who normally use the short-term garage are dropping off or picking up passengers curbside because only ticket-holders are allowed beyond security gates.

Security measures, which include limited access to airline gates and prohibit parking within 300 feet of the terminal, were enacted after last Tuesday's terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C.

Millett said airport officials hadn't addressed the discrepancy between long-term parking rates and short-term rates because the Federal Aviation Administration-driven policies are so new.

"We're still feeling our way through this," Millett said. "Right now meeters and greeters cannot go to the gate. Unless someone is coming here for business, there is no other need for short-term parking."

The short-term parking meters allow for a maximum of three hours. Every 10 minutes costs a quarter, for a rate of $1.50 an hour. Long-term parking charges $3 for the first hour; $1 for each additional hour and $10 for 24 hours.

Aviation Director Randy Walker said if need be, the airport can accommodate more short-term spaces by transferring meters from the existing short-term garage to spaces in long-term.

Nobody will be charged long-term rates for short-term parking, he said.

"Our parking is very light so it's not a problem," Walker said. "If it becomes an issue we would have to buy more meters or pick up the ones in the short-term lot and move them."

Walker said nearly 30 percent of the motorists who park in the 3,970-space long-term lot are short-term parkers. The average parking time of a short-term motorist is one hour and 10 minutes.

Dario Herrera, chairman of the Clark County Commission which oversees the airport, said there has yet to be a need to create new rates for short-term motorists forced to park in the long-term lot.