Calgary Transit is making it easier to reserve a parking spot at C-Train park and ride lots.

It hopes the new system will encourage more commuters to pay for a parking space.

Since city council scrapped charging $3 a day to park at C-Train lots, commuters can either get there early to find a free space or pay $70 dollars a month to reserve one.

However, Neil McKendrick with Calgary Transit admits reserving a parking spot on the city's website is not exactly convenient.

“It's a very convoluted process,” he said.

McKendrick says users must put in their credit card information every month and indicate whether they want a space and at which lot.

He says a new system being designed by the Calgary Parking Authority should be ready by the middle of the year.

It will allow commuters to book as needed, so if they're paying for a space at the same lot for a year it's one reservation.

McKendrick says another change that's coming is to reduce the $70 monthly rate for a reserved space at three suburban station lots: Anderson, Franklin and Mcknight-Westwinds.

“We haven't actually worked out what an appropriate price would be,” he said. “It could well be different at every lot.”

McKendrick says the lower rates could come in at those three lots as soon as April.