Summer parking will no longer be free in Town of Vail parking structures

Summer parking at the Town of Vail parking structures will no longer be free because both need “significant funding” for repair and maintenance, according to a statement.

The town council voted last week to implement summer parking fees of $2 per hour — with one hour free — up to a maximum of $10 per day. Parking will be free after 3 p.m., however. The plan will be in effect from May 30 through Sept 28.

Winter parking fees are currently in effect and will be through April 20 when the Vail ski area closes. Parking will be free from April 21 until May 30 when the summer fees kick in.

Summer parking in the town structures has always been free, but the town says it will need $10.5 million in repairs over the next five years and another $2.5 million for annual maintenance. The Vail Village parking structure and Transportation Center was built in 1974. The Lionshead structure was built in 1981.

“We had a structural engineer come in and do a very thorough assessment of both structures,” said town spokeswoman Kris Widlak, adding that it would have cost the town more than $200 million to replace the buildings. “It sure seemed way more prudent to find a way to do the repairs recommended by the engineer and keep these structures in place for as long as we possibly can.

“Nothing they found was an imminent, high-danger, critical thing. We were very gratified to find out that a $10-million repair could take the place of $200- to $300-million replacements,” he added.

Vail Transit will expand its free summer schedule to provide 15-minute frequency for the East Vail Route. The West Vail Express and Lionsridge Loop service, which previously did not operate in the summer, will be in service this summer.

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