The Fraser Street parking garage closed yesterday for two weeks so automated pay stations can be installed.

The new prepay stations will replace human attendants and will require people to pay in the building's lobby instead of when they exit.

Public Works Director Mark Whitfield said the new system would eliminate exit congestion, especially during rush hour. In addition, Whitfield said that previously, no attendant was on duty after 2 a.m., so people could park all day and leave late without paying. The prepay stations would also get rid of this loophole.

To avoid confusion about the new system, signs will be posted in the garage along with an automated voice playing to remind people to take their ticket with them, Whitfield said.

"The biggest thing to remember is to take your ticket with you," Whitfield said. "I know a lot of people just throw it on the dashboard when they get it."

State College Parking Manager Ed Holmes said the Fraser Street renovations will add to a downtown parking system that includes the new Beaver Avenue garage and the Pugh Street garage.

A 22-year bond taken out by the borough will pay for the total project. Equipment upgrades will cost $1,003,911 for all the parking decks, Holmes said.

Holmes said construction at the Pugh Street garage upgrade will be done in phases and won't cause the garage to close.

"It has a better exit/entry," he said.

Whitfield said the automated pay stations would not cut jobs; attendants are mostly made part-time employees with varying hours.

Whitfield said there would always be a need for parking attendants because of all the assignments that exist outside of working the pay booth.

Employee Joyce Silverman was not worried about the changes. She said she would only have to slightly adjust her hours.

"I welcome people that look lost here and instruct them how the garage works," Silverman said.

Despite the automation trend, Whitfield said there would always be an attendant on call in one of the garages to help.

He said they could be reached at any time and anywhere because the garages are interconnected with fiber-optic cable.

"Even at 3 a.m., you can push a help button to get a human being to assist you," Whitfield said.

Whitfield said all parking garages downtown would eventually have automated pay stations.

"We want to make all the garages in the borough the same so there are no inconsistencies," Whitfield said.