River Market businesses share ideas for parking following price change

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - What started as a petition is bringing an end to surge pricing in the River Market.

River Market businesses sounded the alarm of surge pricing driving customers away and costing employees too much. Now the city is doing something about it.

This means if there is a KC Current game happening, you won’t have to pay $30 extra to enjoy food and shopping in the River Market. Plus, employees don’t have to pay to come to work. However, this is only step one in the parking problem down in this busy area.

“This is common sense, our city has to have common sense,” Steve Stegall, owner of Blue Line argued.

For Stegall, his staff at Blue Line and employees of many small businesses down here are the backbone of a thriving River Market.

Getting rid of the surge for “event-based pricing” is a win for KC Taco Company owner Arthur Leduc.

So what is the next step? Getting back customers they lost to high parking prices.

“The biggest impact for us is that people just coming in for a drink or appetizer to start their evening or day off were getting hit with $30,” Leduc said. “So we lost a lot of business with the surge pricing. We’re trying to get word out that’s not here anymore.”

For less than $3 a day, monthly parking deals are available in lots at 6th and Walnut Street, 5th and Main Avenue, and 300 Wyandotte Street.

Kansas City also added that they’re working to develop a discount program for River Market employees.

The General manager of KC Taco Company shared that parking streetside for a full shift would still cost him over $20, daily. Customers also shared frustration with the current system.

Business owners agree a parking garage would solve a lot of parking issues.

“A parking garage would be unbelievable,” Leduc stated. “I know they’re very expensive to do. But Kansas City is making some pretty good money.”

KCTV took that idea to city leaders, but no garages are in the works or have been brought up officially for River Market.

KCTV was told it would take a larger city conversation about funding and come down to the City Council to draft and then vote on it. If this latest surge in the parking prices debate has shown anything, it’s that River Market businesses aren’t afraid to speak out and advocate for this area and its customers.

Rates have been modified throughout the downtown loop in the Crossroads and Power and Light as well.

KCTV was told the city is exploring additional metered areas where parking remains a challenge.

In most places, the rate will be $1 for each of the first hours.

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