Harrisburg resident Les Ford shared his concerns with the board of Park Harrisburg on Dec. 13.
Park Harrisburg has operated and enforced Harrisburg’s street and garage parking for two years now. Yet residents at last night’s public parking meeting said the independent organization has not adapted to their needs.
A millennial said it took him several weeks to figure out how to use the Pango app, which allows motorists to buy parking time from their mobile devices. Several senior citizens echoed his sentiments, adding that the meters take too long to “warm up” during cold temperatures.
Harrisburg resident Les Ford recounted the story of an 83-year-old couple standing at a meter trying to figure out what happened to the screen.
“The problem is that that was two years ago,” he said. “Nothing has changed.”
Residents said the meters do not clearly denote hourly prices, discounts and holidays.
“I know that Dec. 25 is a holiday, but what about Dec. 26?” a resident asked.
With a decision to increase parking rates looming, Harrisburg residents and visitors may have more to lament.
John Gass, the director of parking system manager Trimont, said that Park Harrisburg will announce a rate increase in late December. He did not say what type—for street parking, garages or enforcement—or give any specifics to the increase.
In order to make bond payments, Gass said he sees the only two options as increasing revenue and decreasing expenses. He said revenues and operating expenses are on budget for 2016.
Standard Parking Regional Manager Jon Kemp announced yesterday that the company has decreased expenses by $60,000 this year by implementing two projects.
First, changing electricity providers from PPL Electric Utilities decreased the rate for electricity, he said. In addition, updating to energy-efficient LED lights in the four most outdated garages – River Street, Walnut Street, 5th Street and Chestnut Street – saved Park Harrisburg $33,000 from July to September, Kemp said.
Park Harrisburg typically has two public meetings per year. Chris Sherman, senior vice president of SP+ Municipal Services, which manages Park Harrisburg, said he did not know when the next meeting would be held.
Author: Danielle Roth
