Welcome To Springfield Parking Authority // Update From The Executive Director
CUSTOMERS OF SPRINGFIELD PARKING AUTHORITY
Re: Viaduct Project and Parking
The Springfield Parking Authority currently has ample parking spaces available in our downtown facilities to accommodate all of our monthly parkers during this project. Last week we were notified that the viaduct rehabilitation project will probably begin in March, 2015. The Authority will send email notifications to existing customers and post updates as we receive them on a monthly basis on our website. The information we will share will be based on communications with the DOT and the contractor selected for this project. Of course we know that there will be some inconvenience to the public, but we are trying to manage that with this information campaign. This situation is being monitored regularly and additional contingency planning continues.
Re: Current Projects
We have changed our domain name to www.SpringfieldParkingAuthority.com effective October, 1, 2014. We have also upgraded our website to allow for online payment of monthly parking fees as well as completion of several forms required for this purpose. We are attempting to make your use of our facilities more convenient. A new sign program featuring maps of the downtown is underway. When completed, these signs will be posted in all facilities.
If you are a monthly parker, please make sure that the information you provide us is updated when changes occur. Our security contractor, M.J. Norton Co., issues tickets on vehicles left in our garages after closing. Many of these tickets prove unnecessary and are voided due to inaccurate information on file. Please let us know if you have changed vehicles or need to add a second vehicle to the information on file here.
Re: Financial Reports
In FY 14, the Springfield Parking Authority had gross income of nearly $3.5 million dollars; gross expenses, including debt service, were $3.0 million dollars resulting in net income of $500,000. A capital needs assessment is now underway to identify and prioritize the needs in each facility. The Authority plans to invest the necessary funds to complete these projects to improve the condition of our facilities over the course of the next several years to make your parking experience better. Many capital improvement projects and much of our maintenance has unfortunately been deferred for many years, so these upgrades and improvements are expensive and may be lengthy in duration. The Springfield Parking Authority manages the City’s Towing and On Street Parking contracts as part of its daily operations. We strive continuously to improve efficiency and reduce operating expenses.
Electric vehicle charging machines will soon be installed in the I-91 North garage and in the Columbus Center garage. These chargers are funded in part by a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. Additional funding from the grant will be applied to a portion of the purchase price of two electric Smartcar vehicles to replace the vehicles currently (no pun) used by our on street personnel. We will also purchase two gas or hybrid Smartcars to upgrade our fleet.
Re: Community Contributions
The Springfield Parking Authority has budgeted $300,000 from this year’s revenue to fund overtime deployments of Police patrols in the downtown. Whenever possible the Parking Authority allows use of its facilities at reduced or no cost, to support community affairs and charitable activities. In recent months we have sponsored events such as the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Walk, the Mattoon Street Arts Festival, the Baystate Health Fair, Hometown Heros, Springfield Jazz and Roots Festival, Veterans Expo, Springfield Public Forum and Springfield Symphony Hall events.
We will continue to support economic development activities in the City whenever possible as our resources allow.
Sincerely,
Mary E. McNally
Executive Director
Springfield Parking Authority