Paid parking goes into effect on Vail's opening day (Nov. 18); season parking passes on sale Monday

Season parking passes will be ready for purchase beginning at 8 a.m. Monday, Nov. 7 on the lower level of the Municipal Building, 75 S. Frontage Rd. There are five discount pass types available, plus an incremental rate structure for value cards. The town's parking pass sales office will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday throughout the season.

Paid parking begins at 6 a.m. Nov. 18 in the Vail Village and LionsHead parking structures. Also on Nov. 18, satellite lots at Ford Park and the soccer field east of Golden Peak will become permit parking for employees.

To coincide with the start of paid parking, Vail Transit will be increasing bus service across all routes. Descriptions of the available passes and qualifications are as follows:

2011-12 Season Parking Passes

Pink Pass, $150. For employees of eligible Vail business license holders, good for parking at gated lots at Ford Park and soccer field, 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily. New this year, the pass is also good for parking on the North Frontage Road at Middle Creek daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Available to Vail Village or LionsHead-based Vail business license holders' employees working a minimum of 30 hours per week. Proof of employment is required. Parking spaces are serviced by the existing transportation system.

Green Pass, $500. For employees of eligible Vail business license holders, good for parking in the LionsHead structure Monday through Thursday with the exception of the restricted days of Dec. 26-Jan.2; Jan. 16 and Feb. 20. Also good for access to Ford Park and soccer field lots from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily. Available to Vail Village or LionsHead-based Vail business license holders' employees working a minimum of 30 hours per week. Proof of employment is required.

Blue Pass, $1,100. For Vail property owners, residents and employees of qualifying Vail business license holders, good for parking in the two structures with restrictions. Good 7 days a week at LionsHead structure and Monday through Thursday at Vail Village structure with the exception of the restricted days of Dec. 26-Jan. 2; Jan. 16 and Feb. 20. Available to Vail Village or LionsHead-based Vail business license holders' employees working a minimum of 30 hours per week. Proof of employment is required. Proof of residency or proof of property ownership is needed for residents or property owners.

Silver Pass, $1,800. Limited to 50 passes each per structure and available to qualifying business license holders in Vail Village and LionsHead on a first-come, first-served basis, with guaranteed parking in one structure. One pass per business until Dec. 5 at which time any remaining LionsHead silver passes will be sold to merchants in Vail Village for parking in the LionsHead structure. This pass must be purchased using the credit card or checking account of the business.

Gold Pass, $3,250. For guaranteed parking in the two structures. No eligibility requirements.

Vanpool Pass. Any employee vanpool (vans with seven or more passengers) registered with the town can get either a $150 Pink Pass or receive discounted guaranteed space. Call 479-2349 for details.

The incremental rate structure for value card holders calculates the locals discount based on a percentage of the drive-up rate. Qualifying Vail and Eagle County card holders receive 50 percent and 40 percent discounts, respectively, during non-peak, and 20 percent and 12 percent discounts, respectively, during peak. Go to www.vailgov.com for full Value Card pricing.

In addition to the discounted parking pass and value card options, the town will continue to provide free entry after 3 p.m. in the two parking structures. Also, parking will be free for the first two hours in the garages upon entry at any time.

Hourly drive-up rates will be $15 for 2 to 3 hours; $20 for 3 to 4 hours; and a $25 all day cap for 4 to 24 hours. New this winter will be a $25 charge for RVs and other over-size vehicles using the Charter Bus Lot east of the LionsHead parking structure. Charter bus parking will remain free.

As an additional option, the town will offer free parking in satellite areas serviced by the town's free transit system. The inventory includes the following locations available seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.: Gore Creek Trailhead, East Vail Interchange Trailhead, Pitkin Creek Trailhead, Booth Falls Trailhead, Spraddle Creek Trailhead, Red Sandstone Creek Trailhead, Buffehr Creek Trailhead, Davos Trailhead and Red Sandstone Park (beginning in December). Parking availability is limited and some spaces are restricted to three-hour trailhead use.

Free parking will also be available at Donovan Park with 90 spaces on days when the pavilion isn't in use. A sign will be used at the park's entrance to indicate availability each day. In addition, a limited number of free skier parking spaces will be offered at the Vail Nordic Center at the golf course Monday through Friday. The lot will be closed to skier parking on weekends. Parking availability for both locations will be updated regularly on www.vaileventparking.com.

In addition, first-come, first-served free skier parking, 70 spaces, will be available on the North Frontage Road across from the West Vail Mall seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Additional free skier parking, 100 spaces, will be available on the North Frontage Road west of the West Vail roundabout on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Free emergency parking along the South Frontage Road will again be activated in overflow parking situations this season. Six temporary bus stops will be in use along the Frontage Road for added convenience.

Visit the town's website at www.vailgov.com or call the parking hotline at 479-2104 for additional updates.