Dig deeper into those pockets if you are planning to park in downtown lots any time soon.

The Calgary Parking Authority has raised fees by a buck or two per hour at most of its downtown lots and parkades due to what manager Troy McLeod says is rising demand.

“We are still about 15 to 20 per cent cheaper than our competitors,” he said. “The demand for parking is high in Calgary. As a result, that affects the pricing.”

Even before Wednesday’s increase, a study last year pegged city parking rates as among the highest in North America. Some commuters on Thursday wondered if they would ever catch a break.

“It’s really expensive,” Susan Tran said on her way to night class after shelling out $17 to reserve a downtown spot for the day. “Transit sucks, too. Really, it’s like what else is there?”

But others, such as nightshift worker Shaune Plumb, said there are deals to be found, provided you travel into the core only on off-peak hours.

“I do stay away during the day so I don’t have to pay too much,” he said. 

McLeod said rates went up by about four per cent overall after a review in October suggested that more motorists are coming downtown.

“It is an indication there is an increase in vibrancy and continued economic improvement for Calgary,” he said.