For decades, one thing was constant in Palos Park.
The Metra commuter lot price was $1.25 a day or $25 for a monthly pass.
That’s about to change.
For the first time since 2006, the fees will go up. The village council voted on March 24 that starting May 5, the lot price will go up to $1.50 a day and $30 for a monthly pass.
Accounts and Finance Commissioner G. Darryl Reed said expenditures continue to go up and sealcoating and stripping of the lot in the future could run $70,000-$80,000.
Officials are hoping that the increase won’t cause outrage but there could be some blowback.
“There are those who might say ‘well, Commissioner Reed, if you increase it, we’re going to drive to some of the other lots on the Southwest line,’’’ Reed said. “There are 10 lots on the Southwest line. Five of them charge $1.50 a day. One charges $1.75 a day and one charges $2 a day.
“I don’t think anyone is going to go to Oak Lawn and pay $2 per day. I don’t think they will go to Manhattan and pay $1.75. The only other lots charging $1.25 are Palos Heights and New Lenox.”
While he doubts people will drive to New Lenox to save a quarter, Reed admits that some may choose to drive by neighboring Palos Heights. But he also said that once Palos Parks goes to $1.50, Palos Heights may follow suit.
The daily fee increase could produce an extra $4,000 per year for expenditures, and the monthly raise could result in an extra $1,260.
Expenditures include maintenance of the lot, plowing and salting, landscaping, custodial services and security of the premises.
Avoiding dueling projects?
Commissioner Rebecca Petan said an Illinois Department of Transportation project to replace culverts on 123rd Street near Mill Creek west of 93rd Street will begin in April and there will be road closures.
There is currently a project at 131st Street and Southwest Highway and Petan said the hope is that the 123rd Street project won’t begin until the other is finished.
Police Chief Joe Miller does not want to see both projects going on at the same time.
“That would be a major, major concern to Palos Park,” he said. “I hope they would try to prevent that.”
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