Greater Harrisburg's Community Magazine

Parking Advisory committee meeting incredibly short, sparsely attended

Tuesday’s meeting of the Park Harrisburg Advisory Committee

Despite constant complaints about parking in Harrisburg, only three members of the public showed up Tuesday night for a rare Park Harrisburg Advisory Committee meeting, which was was short, quiet and methodical.

Nancy Keim, deputy executive director of the Harrisburg Parking Authority, enumerated what she considered to be the parking system’s 2018 successes: increased use of the ParkMobile parking app, which now accounts for about one-third of all transactions; event parking rates for visitors attending festivals; and 12 electric car charging stations installed in partnership with the commonwealth.

Also in 2018, Park Harrisburg received less revenue overall, but that shortfall was offset by lower expenses, she said. So, it was able to deposit about $1 million into its capital reserve fund, the first money put into reserve since 2014.

Capital improvement projects from last year focused on fixing the Locust and Chestnut street garages, with both projects finishing under budget, she said.

Objectives for this year include a retrofit of the Walnut Street garage’s elevators and continued concrete work at the Chestnut Street garage, she said.

This year, the committee anticipates that the system will lose some $760,000 due to increased costs, which may negatively affect 2019’s payment to the city.

Few residents were in attendance for the brief meeting, despite frustrations often articulated about parking in Harrisburg and the fact that the committee had not met publicly in well more than a year. However, those in attendance offered thoughtful commentary.

Michael Hertrich, a Midtown transplant from Pittsburgh, said that existing parking policies harmed residents and stifled small businesses.

“I owned and operated a business in the south side of Pittsburgh for 30 years, and I’m looking to open a business in the City of Harrisburg,” he began. “But I need someone to explain to me why I would consider opening a business in a city that doesn’t promote small business. Right now, it is totally stifled by your parking system.”

He suggested that Harrisburg could learn from the experiences in his former area of Pittsburgh. For instance, Park Harrisburg could allow a window of free parking in permit-only areas or allow residents to buy yearly guest permits to accommodate deliveries, home repairs, neighbor visits, or other happenings of a healthy urban center, he said.

Another resident, AJ Knee, said that he’s generally thankful for Park Harrisburg, but believes that signage should be made clearer and the committee should implement a way to transfer residential permits in the case of rental vehicles.

Following the public comment period, the meeting ended abruptly after about 20 minutes, without the committee addressing the comments and concerns of residents.

The next public Advisory Committee meeting is slated for later this year, likely in November or December.

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