The two new lots just south Terminal B will add a little more than 1,500 new parking spots within walking distance of the Terminal B, which handles most of the passengers going out of San Jose. The new lots are hourly and daily. Parking rates are $2 for every half hour, up to $30 a day in the hourly lot.
If you travel out of Mineta San Jose International Airport during peak times you know it can be a mess. There's a seven story garage right across from Terminal B, but the only public parking is on the ground floor and there are fewer than 300 spots. The remaining floors are all for rental cars. So what happens is people drive in, can't find a spot, and then drive out and gum up the lanes outside the terminal. The new lots are supposed to ease that.
There are other changes; beginning Friday, the long term lot on the west side of the airport will close and on Monday, the lot just south of the rental garage will become a daily lot.
The renovations come at a time of declining travel at San Jose; about 8 million passengers came through a year ago, that's down about 6 million from the boom times 11 years ago.
