Wollongong City Council has just completed a $350,000 makeover of the Thomas St car park, which provides 145 parking spaces and 13 motorcycle spaces. The spaces are leased to city workers during the week but the car park is free at night and on weekends.

While the number of car spaces has not increased, the motorcycle bays are new.

Now work has started on upgrading the Rawson St car park at the western end of the CBD, which will be expanded by 50 spaces to 208 parking spaces.

Also, construction of a new 350-space commuter car park at Wollongong Railway Station, which was promised in the state budget last month, is expected to begin by the end of the year or early next year.

"The design phase is well underway and it will have around 350 new spaces," a spokeswoman for Transport Minister David Campbell said.

The council's director of works and infrastructure, Peter Kofod, said the improvements to the two council car parks were part of the inner-city parking strategy.

About $1.8 million will be spent repairing and upgrading car parks across the Wollongong council area during the next year.

"The upgrades to the Thomas St car park include improved drainage, resurfacing, line markings, pavers and new landscaping to bring the central city car park up to current standards," Mr Kofod said.

"Council has also removed overhanging branches to prevent damage to vehicles and installed over 30 new trees and tree guards."

The improvements to the Rawson St car park - which was purchased last year to alleviate a shortage of parking spaces - include resurfacing, line marking and landscaping.