Saturday Parking Fees Start At Franconia Metro (ICYMI)

FRANCONIA, VA—Earlier this week commuters have seen $8.95 "non-rider" fees go into effect at the Franconia-Springfield Metro and other stations with parking garages and lots. Now parking fees on Saturdays kicked off on Saturday, Feb. 10.

Metro is charging $2 parking fees on Saturday as part of its six-month pilot program to find new revenue sources. But the $8.95 non-rider fee would apply in certain conditions for anyone paying with a credit card, paying with a SmarTrip card not used for their Metro ride or paying with SmarTrip more than two hours after the start of their last Metro ride.

On weekdays, that higher fee applies to those taking Virginia Railway Express and parking at Franconia-Springfield. Riders can avoid the charges by using Metro and paying the parking fee with SmarTrip after their Metro trip ends.

Metro has also extended hours parking fees are in place. Fees will be collected two hours earlier on all weekdays and one hour later on Fridays. The new hours 7:30 a.m.-12:30 a.m. Mondays to Thursdays, 7:30 a.m.-2 a.m. on Fridays and 10 a.m.-2 a.m. on Saturdays.

Lee District Supervisor Jeff McKay called for Metro to revoke the higher "non-rider" fees at Franconia-Springfield, saying it hurts VRE riders and would drive away Metro revenue. Members of the Metro board from Virginia proposed an exemption for Saturday parking fees at Fairfax County stations but Washington, DC vetoed it, along with a request for delay, Fairfax Times reported.

Parking on Sundays and federal holidays remains free.

See a full list of parking fee charges here.

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Image via Patch editor Emily Leayman