Certain parking rates at Logan International Airport's garages will increase starting on April 1st, 2003. The daily rate at Logans Terminal B Garage will rise from $22 to $24, while the daily rate at the Central Parking Garage will remain at $22 offering passengers an easy alternative. The rates for under one hour in both garages will remain unchanged.

The new rates will generate more than $2.3 million a year and will help cover increased security costs at Logan. Like most cities and the Commonwealth, the Massachusetts Port Authority is facing lagging revenues and expanded security expenses.

The increase in the daily rate for the Terminal B Garage will steer cost-conscious travelers to the 7,700-space Central Parking Garage or Economy Lots and help keep the smaller 2,700-space Terminal B Garage available. Typically, the Terminal B Garage fills up with business travelers on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, forcing drivers to loop around and park in the airports Central Garage. Recently completed pedestrian bridges from the Central Parking Garage to Terminal B are climate-controlled and feature moving walkways.


NEW RATES: 04/01/03			CENTRAL & TERM. B
	Central	Term. B		Current Rates
0-1/2 hour	2.00	2.00		2.00
1/2-1 hour	5.00	5.00		5.00
1-1 1/2 hours	8.00	8.00		7.00
1 1/2-2 hours	11.00	11.00		10.00
2-3 hours	14.00	14.00		12.00
3-4 hours	17.00	17.00		15.00
4-7 hours	20.00	20.00		17.00
7-24 hours	22.00	24.00		22.00
Each Add'l day
1st 6 hours	11.00	12.00		11.00
Each Add'l day	22.00	24.00		22.00

Even with the increase, parking rates at Logan remain well below those of major downtown Boston parking garages and are in line with other major airport parking rates.

The economic slowdown has forced Massport to cut its operating budget two years in a row and reduce its workforce by 15%. To continue the necessary fiscal recovery, Massport is moving forward with several fee increases required to help fund new and expanded security requirements and initiatives and meet operating costs. While security costs mount, revenues continue to lag as the airline industry struggles through tough economic times. From fiscal year 2001 to fiscal year 2002, actual total revenues declined at Massport by more than $20 million. The decline in revenues for Massport mirrors the grim situation faced by mayors, city managers, city councils and boards of selectmen across the state.

Continuing the fiscal recovery, Massport will initiate the public process to raise fees charged to companies offering transportation services at Logan. In addition, Massport will raise rates and charges on those who utilize Hanscom Field. In some cases, fees at Bedford's Hanscom Field have not been raised since the 1980's.

Also, Massport has proposed starting the public process to increase the tolls on the Tobin Bridge to offset operating and capital costs and payments for the Central Artery/Tunnel Project. The current toll is $2 for a southbound trip across the bridge, priced below the tolls for the Boston Harbor tunnel crossings and similar toll bridges surrounding New York City. There is no toll for the northbound trip on the Tobin Bridge.

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