City parking increases 66 percent next Monday

The price of city parking is going up. Beginning next Monday, Austinites will pay $2 an hour to park, instead of $1.20 an hour.

The City of Austin says this is for metered on-street parking spaces and is in an effort to reduce congestion.

Austin Transportation says parking usage is monitored quarterly and they're willing to increase that base rate to ensure their goal is met. The most they would be able to charge is $5 an hour.

The $2 an hour rate is a 66 percent increase.