Vernon residents woke up to the stark reality Tuesday that it will now cost them more - in some cases double, to park on city streets and in city owned lots.

As of today (Feb. 26), the rate for on-street parking meters increases from 50 cents an hour to $1 an hour.

Metered rates are being rolled out over several weeks from City Centre and out.

Rates for parking in city-owned lots and the parkade are also going up.

Lot parking will increase from $35/month and, in some cases, $21.40/month to $60/month.

Hourly and day use rates will also increase in lots where this use is permitted.

In the parkade, monthly fees will increase from $55/month to $65/month while rooftop parking goes up from $25/month to $35/month.

Monthly parking passes for city run lots will be available for sale beginning Monday, March 4 at City Hall. Payment in full will be required at time of purchase.

City officials say the new rates are more in line with transit costs, rates charged by other communities and the costs of retaining and maintaining land for parking.

Rates, in some cases, have been the same for more than 10 years.