7 in 10 oppose 'surge' parking rates, says new survey by AAA Mid-Atlantic

WASHINGTON - Six in ten D.C. drivers say they oppose the soon-to-be implemented 'surge' parking meter rates in the city's Chinatown and Penn Quarter areas.

According to a new AAA Mid-Atlantic poll, nearly 70 percent of those who responded say they think the higher rates will negatively impact nearby businesses.

The pilot plan calls for the price of some parking spots in the area to increase during peak demand hours, which would include late afternoons and evenings. In some of the 'surge' spots, a $2 per hour fee could soar to as high as $8 per hour.

DDOT has said that the plan should be in place by 2016 and that an app will be developed to let people know in real-time where the available spaces are and how much they cost. They say they hope the new plan will reduce the amount of time it takes motorists to find a parking spot and reduce road congestion.