By: Deborah Johnson Wood
It seems that a new parking ramp in Heartside has just the ticket—one that means no more wasting time in the exit line to pay an attendant. The six-story, 313-space ramp under construction at Cherry and Commerce streets will be equipped with a Pay On Foot automated payment system, allowing drivers to walk up and pay for parking before getting back into their vehicles.
"You pull a ticket to enter the facility, go complete your business, and when you come back to the parking facility you pay at a machine located in a stairwell lobby," says Pam Ritsema, Grand Rapids parking supervisor. "When you pull up to the exit, you insert your exit ticket and the gate goes up."
There will be a machine in each of the two stairwell lobbies. The machines accept cash, credit cards, and debit cards.
But what if there's a problem, like, it doesn’t accept your beat up dollar bill or doesn’t give you an exit ticket?
"There's an intercom system, so users can push a button and get help," Ritsema says.
Ritsema adds that the city will see long-term cost savings by not having to have a booth attendant, and the machines don't call in sick.
Cooley Law School has reserved some 60 of the parking spaces; the rest are available for the public.
Rockford Construction is building the ramp. The project broke ground last November and is part of eight renovation projects Rockford has worked on in the Cherry Street Landing district since 1999.
Plans call for the ramp to open this fall.
Source: Pam Ritsema, Grand Rapids Parking System; Jason Wheeler, Rockford Construction
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Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected].
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