Parking could get more expensive in Columbia. What to know.

Parking is expected to get more expensive in Columbia, as the city council looks at raising rates from $0.75 cents an hour to up to $2 an hour in busy parts of the city. The council is holding a public hearing before a vote on the change Tuesday at its regular 4 p.m. meeting.

What to know before the first vote.

How much more could parking cost?

Rates are expected to increase from $0.75 cents an hour to up to $2 an hour in busy areas like Five Points, the Vista, around the University of South Carolina and downtown. A consultant recommended that change to the city after a study earlier this year.

The cost would go up less the farther you get from high-traffic areas.

Free parking on weekends and evenings could also go away. The plan would also raise the monthly rates at the city’s parking garages.

Why is the city raising rates?

City officials say Columbia has not changed its parking costs in years, with the last adjustment in 2006. The consultant hired by the city to assess the parking system found that other than Greenville, which has free on-street parking, Columbia had the lowest rates compared with similar cities.

How can I learn more about the changes before the public hearing?

The city is holding an open house before the meeting Tuesday to share more about the parking changes. It runs from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the lobby of City Hall, at 1737 Main St.

When will the changes be final?

If passed, the new rates would go into effect Jan. 1, 2025. The Council must vote on the changes twice before they are finalized. Tuesday’s will be the first vote.