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WATCH ABOVE: Students at MacEwan University should brace themselves to pay more for parking as of July. Jessica Kent has the details.

EDMONTON — University students who drive to MacEwan University’s downtown campus will soon have to pay a whole lot more for parking.

According to a letter sent out to pass holders, parking rates will be increased “to a level consistent with parking rates in the surrounding area” as of July 1.

In some cases, the 2015/16 prices for a monthly pass are a 70 per cent price jump compared to the 2014/15 year:

City Centre Underground Parkade: $244.65 ( up $110.25 from $134.40)

from $134.40) Robbins Underground Parkade: $244.65 ( up $110.25 from $134.40)

from $134.40) West Parkade : $179.55 ( up $84.35 from $95.20)

from $95.20) Surface Lot S (Residence): $161.70 (up $105.70 from $56)

“You may already know that university parking operations and infrastructure are not funded by government grants and must be self-sustaining,” reads the letter signed by James Macdonald, MacEwan’s coordinator of Transportation, Print and Mail Services.

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“At current rates, parking is not economically sustainable. Tweet This

“The increase is necessary to ensure that university parking becomes viable over the long term…We understand that this is not welcome news.”

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The University ended its letter by saying that it hopes some will “take advantage of alternative transportation options,” like car pooling and transit.