Parking rates in North American central business districts (CBDs) held firm over the past 12 months, according to the Colliers International 10th Annual Parking Rate Survey, despite overall downward pressure on sale prices and leasing rates in other segments of the commercial real estate market.

The median monthly parking rate for the 44 U.S. CBDs surveyed increased by 1.1 percent from June 2009 to June 2010, reaching $161.56. The median monthly rate in the 12 Canadian cities surveyed increased by two percentage points in the past year to $224.10 CAD. The median daily rate for the U.S. decreased by 1.4 percent to $16.36 during the period, while the median daily rate in Canada climbed by two percent to $14.83 CAD.  

With the economic recovery unfolding in slow-motion, parking rates are expected to show little change over the next 12 months, Colliers reports. Rates are expected to trend upward beginning in the second half of 2011, however.

Stabilizing office occupancies is one of the underlying reasons for the slight uptick in monthly parking rates. Supply and demand is another major factor in the stability of parking rates in North America, according to Ross J. Moore, executive vice president and chief economist for Colliers International in the U.S.

"Parking availability in only four of the 56 Central Business Districts surveyed were described as 'abundant' with the remainder being 'fair' or 'limited,'" said Moore.  "That situation is not expected to change much, with only six new garages containing less than 4,000 spaces to be added in the next two years in the U.S. and 10 new garages with 1,800 spots to be added in Canada."

New York City's two CBDs again topped this year's list of the most expensive cities to park in the U.S., with Midtown Manhattan's monthly median price tag hitting $538 and Downtown not far behind at $529. Both were more than three times the national average.  Following Manhattan's two CBDs was Boston at $425, San Francisco at $375, and Chicago at $320.

Canada's top five included (in Canadian dollars) Calgary at $453.38, Toronto at $336.25, Montreal at $280.62, Edmonton at $275.00, and Vancouver at $266.81.

Among the U.S. cities with the lowest median monthly parking rates were Phoenix at $40, Reno, Nev. at $45, Walnut Creek/East Bay, Calif. At $47.50, Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. at $53 and Bakersfield, Calif. at $55.  Canada's bargain spots include Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario at $116.94 CAD per month and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan at $147 CAD.

Data for the 2010 Parking Rate Survey was collected during the month of June 2010 and includes all relevant taxes. Sources for the data include third parties, owners/operators and Colliers International. Survey data includes only covered or underground parking garages in prime central business districts.