In an effort to divert passengers to satellite parking lots and away from the crowded garage, BWI officials are lowering the price on those outlying spaces and increasing the 24-hour rates at the garage directly across from the main airport terminal.
Effective Monday, daily rates on the long-term, or satellite, lots will drop from $6 to $5 while the 24-hour charge for the garage will rise from $15 to $20. Hourly rates in the garage will not change nor will the 24-hour rates at the nearby daily and Express Parking Service lots.
"We're hoping that people who now choose to park in the garage will automatically go to satellite," said Jay Hierholzer, deputy administrator for marketing at Baltimore-Washington International Airport. "We've got too many that are choosing to park there overnight."
During the past year, parking has become increasingly difficult at BWI, with the explosion of low-fare flights causing a dramatic increase in passengers. Short-term parking is particularly critical the garage and daily lots fill up repeatedly.
When the garage is full, motorists frequently park, or double park, in front of the terminal, causing gridlock along the roadways, particularly on weekends and holidays.
Airport officials are expediting plans to expand the four-level garage by 3,200 spaces, but the $40 million construction project won't begin until next summer.
In the meantime, tinkering with prices to change people's parking habits may be one of their best options.
While parking generally is sufficient at the satellite lots -- with the addition of 3,400 spaces there this year -- passengers often complain that getting from the lots to the terminal can take 45 minutes or more.
Starting next week, the satellite lots on both sides of Aviation Boulevard will be open full time and will have independent, color-coded shuttle buses that run to the terminal. Two extra buses have been purchased, Mr. Hierholzer said.