Parking lot proprietor fumes over new fees

By Gary Gosselin
HPR Media Services

Cab and airport shuttle drivers will have to start watching for the “fee police” as Detroit Metropolitan Airport officials implemented a new fee schedule for off-airport transportation March 16.

And passengers and others who use the airport will probably see an increase in costs as a result, said Tim Falvey, director of operations for Airlines Parking, located on Merriman Road in Romulus.

The fees, announced in mid-February, are expected to generate $1 million a year for the cash-strapped airport, and will charge varying amounts for off-airport parking lot shuttles, hotel shuttles, limousine services, flight crew transportation services, charter buses and taxicabs that do not normally do business at the airport.

“It’s outrageous,” said Falvey, whose company has 7,000 spots and was the first “off-airport” parking lot in the country when it opened in 1965. “The costs will have to be passed along to customers, and lower profits at the off-airport lots, maybe even pushing some out of business.

“Lets say they (the airport) drive us all out of business, then they’ll have a monopoly and can charge whatever they want (for parking),” Falvey said. “It’s definitely outrageous.”

Off-airport parking lot shuttles and hotel shuttles would pay a flat rate of

$250 a month per vehicle, off-airport limousine services would pay $190 a month, flight crew transportation services would pay $70 a month, charter buses would pay $100 a month, or $20 a visit. Taxicab companies would pay $50 for a book of 25 daily coupons and drivers would use one coupon at each terminal stop.

“They’re saying they are trying to maximize profits; we had a meeting last week and they say that they’re the airport authority and not with the (Wayne) County (government) now so they will maximize profits and look out for themselves,” Falvey said. He wouldn’t comment about whether the lot owners will try legal action. “We’re exploring our options.”

Off-airport lots already pay a 30 percent state tax, more than any other state, Falvey said. He also expects the fees to rise again at the end of the year when the airport automates the system.

Airport officials were unavailable for comment, but have said by the end of the year these monthly fees would be billed through an automated vehicle identification system that will track commercial vehicles as they enter and exit terminal areas.

In the meantime, the airport will be canvassing the various drop-off areas to police the fees and collect coupons.

Similar commercial fees already are charged at airports in Los Angeles,

Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami,

Minneapolis, Seattle, St. Louis and San Francisco.

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