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.