FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2013
Contact: Mike Kanarick
802.735.7962
Mayor Miro Weinberger Announces Credit and Debit Card Payments and Automated Lanes in City-Owned Parking Garages
Touts Improvements as Good for Community, Visitors, Downtown Businesses
Burlington, VT – Mayor Miro Weinberger today announced that the City of Burlington now accepts credit and debit card payments at all exit lanes in its three downtown parking garages – Marketplace, Lakeview, and College Street garages – in an ongoing effort to further improve customer service and to increase patronage at downtown businesses. Additionally, one lane each in both the Lakeview and College Street garages has been retrofitted with automated equipment that allows exiting patrons to pay by credit or debit card with no need for an attendant to be present.
“The City is working hard to improve the downtown parking experience for residents and visitors,” said Mayor Weinberger. “The improvements to our parking garages announced today are modest, but meaningful, early steps in this direction. In addition, these investments are good examples of technology investments that will save substantial City funds over time. I’d like to thank our Department of Public Works, especially Pat Buteau, DPW’s Assistant Director of Maintenance and Parking Services, and his team for their commitment to this project.”
The three City-owned garages provide 1,612 parking spots in Burlington’s downtown. These garages generate approximately $2.18 million annually, including a $306,000 Downtown Improvement District payment that helps offset the two-hour free parking program. While the automated equipment in the Lakeview and College Street garages removes the need for a person to work those lanes, no staff members will lose their jobs. Rather, DPW will handle the changes through attrition within the Department. Please click here for more information about parking in the City of Burlington.
Assistant DPW Director Buteau stated, “DPW is pleased to offer our parking patrons an alternative method of payment that continues to move us forward. This improvement is just one example of the type of forward progress that is coming for our parking garages. As we continue our work to improve City parking, we encourage the public to join us at next month’s parking summit to share their ideas about how to make parking in town even better.” (See parking summit details below.)
Kelly Devine, Director of the Burlington Business Association (BBA), speaking about the positive impact the new payment methods have on Burlington businesses, stated: “Paying by credit card at downtown garages is a positive step forward for Burlington. Today, most people prefer to pay by credit card, especially those who come to visit for several days. Simplifying the parking experience will lead to longer visits, solid experiences, and increased patronage at Burlington businesses.”
In an effort to continue improving the downtown parking system in Burlington, the BBA, in partnership with the City’s Community and Economic Development Office (CEDO) and DPW, will be holding a downtown parking summit next month. The summit will be held on November 13 from 7:30-11:30am at the Burlington Hilton and feature a keynote speech by Jeffrey Tumlin, a nationally recognized parking expert and principal at Nelson/Nygaard Consulting Associates.
Please click here to learn more about and to register for the summit.
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