Spokane, Wash. --  The latest figures for the River Park Square parking garage released today, show monthly performance is increasing at a significant rate, indicating the strong finish to 2001 is holding steady. 

The garage’s latest report shows January gross revenues exceeded $183,000, an 8.6 percent increase over January 2001 and a 50 percent increase over January 2000.  The number of cars using the parking facility during the month exceeded 70,000, a 3.4 percent increase over January 2001 and a 32 percent increase over January 2000 (see attached charts). 

According to Project Manager Bob Robideaux, the boost in business is widespread, coming from the increased number of patrons of River Park Square’s retailers and cinemas, as well as visitors using the facility to access the expanding number of downtown activities. 

“The community is supporting the new businesses and activities that are part of this downtown revitalization effort and as a result the parking garage is performing at outstanding levels,” said Robideaux.  The garage is continually outpacing itself and we’re operating at a high-level of efficiency thanks to customer service programs we’ve implemented, such as Exit Express.”

Exit Express, the option patrons have to pay for their parking before returning to their car, is currently being used at a rate near 82 percent. 

With the exception of the period surrounding the national events of September 11th, each month since the redeveloped River Park Square opened, gross revenues and car counts in the parking garage topped the year prior by significant margins. 

River Park Square and surrounding downtown businesses serve a regional market of more than 1.7 million people.  The new retail center has generated more than $7.2 million in tax and fee revenues for the City of Spokane and services located in the city, has created and retained more than 1,100 jobs, and has served as a catalyst for downtown revitalization.  Since River Park Square opened, nearly $370 million in new downtown construction projects have been announced or moved forward.