Parking Fees of $5 for Tram Parking

[JackP]

Just read this morning in the Desert Sun that the PSAT plans to start charging $5 per vehicle for parking at the tram. That seems reasonable and about what I'd expected for the tourist who visits once. But no mention in the article of whether there will be an Annual Pass nor how much it may cost. My bigger concern is that even in the most likely evevt that there is an Annual Parking Pass that the wider section of pavement is so limited for "drive arounds' for an Annual Pass that we'll still be stuck in long lines, adding potentially and unknowable waits to get a tram in peak traffic days... Like after the next Big Snow Storm, some time in 2015 and beyond. Any thoughts or information?

[Hikin_Jim]

lame.

It's a way to get more $$'s out of people without so much "sticker shock." It would make more sense to just raise the tram ticket price, but then there would be some people who would look at the price and say "too much."

If they break it up into two separate fees it's more psychologically palatable -- but now there's the hassle of having to pay for the parking. The Marion Mtn trail is looking better all the time.

HJ

[Perry]

It would be nice if one of the bottom parking lots was free on normal days when they aren't using all of the lots. Just a dirt path would be enough for any hiker to walk up and safely avoid cars. The tram would benefit because more of the tourists could park in the main upper lot.

[cynthia23]

Yep, that's a good idea Grandmaster P. And I agree with HJ that it's just a way to raise prices without actually raising prices. And I agree with the OP that the real problem here is having to go through a line to pay for a parking ticket, which will likely add even more delay to the already rather tedious process.

[Hikin_Jim]

Apparently there's a toll booth where you pay your parking fee as you enter the premises. I imagine that on a busy weekend at peak times that it's going to be quite a bottleneck -- with a line of cars snaking back down the mountain waiting to get in. Oh, joy.



HJ

[physicslord]

Anybody have a link to the article?

[Hikin_Jim]

Link: Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to charge $5 for Parking.

HJ