ST. LOUIS • Starting next summer, parkers in downtown St. Louis will need to carry a few extra quarters.

The city's parking commission on Thursday voted to raise parking meter rates to $1.50 an hour in high demand areas, like downtown, and to $1 an hour in low demand areas. High demand areas are currently $1 an hour, while low demand areas are 75 cents an hour.

The rate increase comes after a parking study showed St. Louis rates consistently lag other parts of the country.

The increase is effective July 1, 2015.

Fines for parking at expired meters will also increase from $10 to $15.

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