Whitehorse airport parking plentiful after fee increases and limits

The Yukon government says parking woes at the Whitehorse airport have eased.

The problem peaked last Thanksgiving long weekend when people were told not to bring their vehicles to the airport because the lot was full. Since then fees have been increased and a 30-day limit placed on long term parking.

Al Nixon, the assistant deputy minister for Transportation in the Highways and Public Works Department, says so far there's been no problem.

"We've gone through the Christmas season, Easter and spring break and the lot hasn't been full, so we took that as a very good sign," Nixon says.

'Still pretty cheap'

The price increase was steep. A week that used to cost $7.50 now costs $35.Nixon says the feedback, however, is mostly positive.

"You know people appreciate having a spot to park as much as anything, we've had some, originally or at the beginning, some negative feedback, you've gone from a $1.50 (per day) to $5," Nixon says.

"But I think most people realize that even at $5 a day it's still pretty cheap parking,"

About a dozen abandoned vehicles have been towed, says Nixon.They are impounded and then eventually auctioned off if not claimed.He says some are so dilapidated they cannot be sold.

Nixon says airport staff monitor the parking lot and if they notice a vehicle has been there for awhile they take note and start counting off the 30 day limit.

He says no vehicles have been towed because they've gone over the limit. People who need a parking spot for more than 30 days are directed to privately operated vehicle storage lots.