Council considers raising rates for parking spaces

By ANGELA J. GATES
Collegian Staff Writer

Downtown parking changes are coming, and while some are considered to be improvements, others are causing more debates among members of the State College Borough Council.

The council has discussed increasing rates for parking downtown, voted to install a walk-up pay station to the Pugh Street Parking Garage and approved construction of repairs to the garage.

Parking rates also may be increased at street meters, lots and garages downtown, said Jean McManis, borough council president.

"We need to keep the rates high enough to permit us to do enough to maintain parking facilities today and into the future," she said.

The extra money from the increased rates also could be used to build a new parking garage downtown, she said.

However, some council members do not think increasing rates is a good option.

"We don't want to chase away potential business from downtown," council member James Meyer said.

Instead of increasing rates, he said extending parking meter times could be another source of income. The borough needs to be cautious of the effects of extending parking rates, he said.

Council member Thomas Daubert also said he is against increasing parking rates.

The borough could increase revenue by increasing the cost to rent spaces in garages and lots.

Council members approved at its March 1 meeting the installation of a walk-up pay station in the Pugh Street garage -- another option for increasing revenue.

The station would reduce the time it takes to pay to park from about 30 to 40 seconds to about four seconds, said Ed Holmes, borough parking manager.

Payment would be enforced 24 hours a day and parking attendants would not be needed, he said.

Because the station would operate 24 hours a day, revenue to the borough from the parking deck would most likely increase as well, Holmes said.

The garage soon will begin to receive the repairs the council voted to begin at its March 1 meeting. Construction will begin in May and should be completed this year.

The roof over the Beaver Avenue commercial area will be rebuilt, and the garage entrance from Beaver Avenue also will be closed to allow for more retail or commercial space.