RTD is set to impose parking fees at its most crowded park-n- Ride lots, but the program it fought for three years to implement will impact only about one out of 10 transit riders.

Commuters who live in the RTD taxing district, about 88 percent of the total using its park-n- Ride lots, won't be charged the $2 to $4 daily fee.

The transit agency has long said its push for paid parking wasn't about the revenue, but was a way to ensure more turnover of parking spaces in its busiest lots - and the revenue projection bears that out.

RTD expects to net only about $200,000 a year from the program, a figure that is a drop in the bucket when compared with an expected $21.4 million budget gap due to rising fuel costs and lower-than- projected sales tax collections.

It is so little, in fact, that RTD board members at a briefing Tuesday night suggested the parking fees be earmarked for some special purpose - building new parking spaces, subsidizing feeder buses to park-n-Rides to reduce parking demand, or to fund public art at park-n-Ride lots, for example.

The plan could be in place for some lots starting in February, with all 40 targeted lots charging by May.

Fare increase eyed

Board members on Tuesday also reviewed data on RTD's fare structure in advance of considering a fare increase. RTD staff is looking at the impact of a 25-cent and 50-cent across-the-board increase, which would raise the local fare to $2 or $2.25.

A specific increase won't be recommended until next month, with public hearings to follow and a board vote by October.

The RTD district covers all or part of eight metro counties, twice the land area of the state of Rhode Island. But still, some riders drive in from outside the district and park in the outlying lots. Castle Rock voters, for example, recently voted themselves out of the district.

The parking charge is aimed at offsetting the lack of sales taxes being paid by nonresident users of the system.

RTD plans to charge nonresidents $4 a day to park at 16 high- demand lots and $2 a day to park at 24 lower-demand lots.

RTD also proposes charging $2 a day to any in-district vehicle parked in those lots for more than 24 hours, a move aimed at people who, for example, take a skyRide bus to Denver International Airport and leave their vehicles at RTD lots while they are gone.

"If this program is successful, it will free up space in high-demand facilities and that space will be filled by new patrons," said Errol Stevens, RTD's chief property manager. He said fare revenue from new riders could bring in another $250,000 a year.

RTD also is setting up a reserved parking program. Up to 10 percent of the spaces in park-n- Rides will be set aside for drivers willing to pay $42 a month. RTD came up with this program in response to regular commuters who go in to work later in the morning and can't find spaces in the most crowded lots.

In order to keep some spaces available, reserved spots will be kept open until 10 a.m. After that, they will be open to anyone.

RTD board member Bruce Daly said he feared the charges would discourage some people from riding transit. He represents the mountain area of south Jefferson County and noted some commuters from Park County use the crowded lot in Pine Junction.

flynnk@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5247