‘Two Ways to Pay’ Pilot offers ‘touchless’ option in garage and reduces congestion at entrance and exit
Burlington, Vt. (October 7, 2020) – In response to the current pandemic and changes to lane structure underway on South Winooski Ave, the Department of Public Works is launching a pilot payment system at Marketplace Garage to minimize contact and improve entry/exit efficiency.
On October 14, the entrance and exit gates will be raised at the popular downtown garage and customers will be required to start a parking session before leaving the facility by using ParkMobile, Burlington’s pay-by-cell app, or a kiosk on the ground floor.
Customers that choose to use the kiosk option will need to enter their license plate and can pay with cash or credit card. The kiosks will feature the same process as those used on-street and in lots around Burlington, such as St Paul Street.
“This initiative should give visitors to our downtown an enhanced sense of safety during a pandemic and will also allow garage traffic to dovetail smoothly with the new traffic pattern on South Winooski,” said Jeff Padgett, Assistant Director of Parking and Traffic at the Department of Public Works. “We understand that change is hard in these trying times, but we are taking proactive measures to make it easier for people to come downtown to work, relax or support our local businesses.”
The rate structure in the garage will remain unchanged, including two hours free. Customers will still need to start a parking session to claim the two hours free. Similar to the street meters and other municipal lots, customers without an active parking session will be subject to a citation. The other two municipal garages, Lakeview and College Street garages, will remain gated as usual.
In a concurrent initiative, ParkMobile is sponsoring the #SaveLocalVT Auction, hosted by the Downtown Partnership and Seven Days. Visitors that use ParkMobile between October 14-29 will automatically entered to win a “Golden Envelope” with up to $200 in gift certificates to local businesses.
A “Golden Envelope” will be chosen at random from first time ParkMobile users, people who park in Marketplace Garage using ParkMobile and from people who use the app anywhere in the city.
“These initiatives are separate but share a distinct goal – to help people come downtown and make that experience as safe, simple and easy as possible,” said Kelly Devine, executive director at the Burlington Business Association.
Visit www.btvauction.org for more details on the auction.
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