City Hall Car Park: New System From August 22
[Updated] The City said the City Hall Car Park paid barrier system will be operational from August 22nd, with the rates set at $2.00 per hour for a maximum of 3 hours, with extra charges after the 3-hour limit to “discourage motorists from overstaying.”
“Extra tariff charges apply after the 3-hour maximum limit,” the CoH said, adding that upon “overstaying 4 hours, the motorist is charged an additional $65 tariff, taking the total fee for 4 or more hours to $81.”
A spokesperson said, “The City of Hamilton wishes to advise the public that City Hall Car Park will be fully operational as a paid barrier system car park from Monday August 22nd, with a soft opening on Sunday August 21st where motorists can use the system for free.
“The rates for parking will be $2.00 per hour for a maximum of 3 hours. Extra tariff charges apply after the 3-hour maximum limit, to discourage motorists from overstaying the limit.
“City Hall Car Park has long been a short-stay parking lot, with a maximum stay of 3-hours. That remains the case.
“The rate is $2.00 per hour. Therefore the first 3 hours is a total of $6.00.
“If a motorist exceeds the 3 hour limit, ordinarily they would receive a parking ticket. In this case as the car park barrier system does not require ticketing for overstays, the motorist is charged an additional $10, taking the total to $16.00 for up to 4 hours.
“Keeping in mind this is a maximum stay 3 hours car park, this can be considered lenient. However, upon reaching and overstaying 4 hours, the motorist is charged an additional $65 tariff, taking the total fee for 4 or more hours to $81.
“It is the City’s hope that this car park be used as intended, for stays up to 3 hours and that the higher tariffs will serve as an incentive to do so. Motorists who stay within the 3 hour limit are not impacted in any way by the higher tariffs.
“These tariffs were approved in the May 4th City of Hamilton Council Meeting and approved by the Minister under the terms of our MOU a week later.
“The media will receive an invitation for a walk through on Tuesday next week where City officials will be present and we will show the system fully in operation. A video has also been produced and will be available on City of Hamilton Facebook page and website later today.”
Update 3.04pm: The video, by the City, on the new parking is below
$81 is certainly discouraging
It’s meant to be.
Guess they have to make up for de $18 Million.
You must mean $800 million.
Thats how much U.B.P used up in two years, ask SpongeBob.
Yes, the $18m that ended up in the hands of the PLP’s choice of contractor for the billion dollar development of Front Street and then disappeared. How do you feel now about the 262 year lease Team Hamilton tried to hand to him that the OBA government cancelled?
Clever how the 18 as in 18 million dollars has been reversed to create the parking fee of 81 dollars. Surely that is just a coincidence right?
That is the point, they don’t want people to use it as an all day parking. As they stated before, if you stay past 4 hours, it is essentially like having to pay for a parking ticket that you would have had to pay if you went over your time. They want people to use City Hall as a shopping parking lot, if you want longer term, there is Par-la-Ville or Bull’s Head just off the core. But with too many have been abusing the parking lot, what did you expect to happen?
I’m all good with the “incentives” to park for 3 hours or less.
Can’t help but think though that one point of entry is not (thought out well) enough. Can see this leading to a cluster-f on Church St during the morning rush hour. I hope I’m missing something, and that there is more than one point of entry.
THere are two points of entry. So yes you are.
Agree with that.
There are 2 lanes to get into the parking lot and there is a separate lane to turn into the City Hall off Church St, so I don’t see there being that much of an issue.
totaly unexceptable!!!!! CoH are out of order and the powers that be need to address such
A parking ticket is $100. The $81 is basically a discount to that.
A parking ticket is actually $50.
$75 the last time i got one.
Use bulls head.
Bull’s Head is too far to walk and it is truly ridiculous and outrageous the prices you have to pay for parking in town.
Your spelling is unacceptable.
The powers that be, namely the Corporation of Hamilton, have addressed the unacceptable situation of drivers breaking the parking regulations with impunity.
What about that do you not like?
What is unacceptable is not leaving before three hours is up!
$81 is effectively the 3 hour rate ($6) plus the parking ticket ($75) you would have received for having stayed past the 3 hour maximum time allowed for the City Hall parking lot. Blame those that have been abusing the limbo that the CoH have been in with not being able to deal with parking violators at their parking lots. I think this is a smart solution, it effectively allows the CoH to collect the parking ticket that would have been issued without have to arrange anyone to issue parking ticket.
1) Cash only – or card swipe?
2) Pay as you go in – or as you leave?
Details please COH.
Just seen the photo – ignore questions.
Good idea.
Well, good test of economic incentives! $81!
The big q: are the corporation going to be able to legally collect on fines this time?
If they can make you pay $81there is no need for fines.
I believe payment is due before the barrier will let you leave
No fines to collect on, that is the rate you will have to pay to leave the parking lot if you go over the 3 hours that the parking lot has always had as a maximum time for parking there.
I can see a lot of 81ers in the near future. Oh snap!!I forgot about the car!!!
Just got to wonder what happens if you wait till after 6pm.
Presumably – it is free parking with barriers up.
That raises the question of can you park for more than 3 hours without being charged if the 3 hours is up at 6.00 or later.
Hi Mike and Just the Tip, good question.
The barriers remain in operation 24/7 and throughout free parking periods. The only difference is that the entry ticket you receive can be used as an exit ticket – you skip the payment option.
Therefore, a car parked at 4pm for five hours until 9pm will be charged for 2 hours = $4.00 and will need an exit ticket to leave the car park.
The car parked from 6.01pm for five hours will pay nothing. Same with Sundays. Come out on Sun Aug 21 and test it out! We’ll be on hand to answer any questions that may arise.
I park using EasyPark Mobile how is that going to work at City Hall parking lot?
$81 if you park over 4.5 hours – lets see if you park over 4 hours you can stay for the week at $81. PPL if you are not working, here is an opportunity to make some money if you own property, a driveway, lawn on a bus route, let ppl park there for $25 a day. They can buy a monthly pass and still save money. Owners of the property, don’t forget to place a sign “Parking at your own risk” #helpingoneanother
yeah, you can park in bulls head for $5 a day, so can’t see this catching on….
I do get that they are discouraging long term parking.
I often visit town on a Saturday with my daughter to enjoy some window shopping, food (lunch) and generally having a good time in town. Most times I park (and i always pay for it) at city-hall as it is a safe and convenient option (try going to the movies with lunch in less than 3 hours!?).
Increasing the parking fees to BD16 seem to discourage people from having a shopping experience in town! I am sure the other parking lots will follow suit soon.
It has always been a 3 hour limit.
Try Par La Ville parking lot?
No double feature movie I guess.
I’m hopeful the new prices will stop some lollygaging about town so others can get things done too.
well this is one way to go green I guess..¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Very clever. I must be getting old.lol
The easypark code for the City Hall car park is not on the main entry sign shown in the article…..They really should have it on there as well- even though it is found on the back of the individual yellow computer (Blue tag).
I’m trying to figure out how the EasyPark is going to be a method of payment…it will be interesting to find out.
It’s clear that the high rates for over 3 hours (in a 3 hour max parking lot) is to stop people from parking there all day and not having to pay a fine. Smart move. Bulls head is only a short walk away and a lot less for all day parking. Leave City Hall to people who need more than an hour (street) but not all day!
What about Parlaville.
They build a wall around it?
The state of the road and parking lot at Par-la-ville is enough disincentive
Is this legal?
If I recall correctly, the issue with clamping was the law did not provide the Corporation, or anyone, with the legal means to detain a vehicle and demand immediate payment for its release. The law did not allow the Corporation to essentially hold a vehicle hostage.
Isn’t this the same thing? They are detaining your vehicle until you provide immediate payment.
FLIKEL- Are you saying that people should be able to do as they wish and pay when they want?????
I am merely questioning the legality of this action….particularly when clamping was not legal. This action seems to be the same as clamping, i.e. detaining a vehicle until immediate payment is made.
People should pay. But, the Corporation needs to abide by the law and their past clamping action was not permitted under the law.
This isn’t clamping, this is charging for the use of the CoH property
Um… No since you’re willing driving your vehicle into the parking lot knowing full well you will have to pay to get out.
Excellent Point!!
I am sure some lawyer who has left his car over 4 hours will contest the charge. It is a charge, not a fine. Also the vehicle is not clamped. You can drive it. You just can’t take it out of the carpark till you pay the $81 fee. The gate won’t open for you.
All day parking at Bulls Head at $5 is dirt cheap. If anything there should be a tiered parking fee structure in Bulls Head. Pay more to park in the shade of the lower levels. Pay less, even free, to park on the top level in the sun.
I’m perfectly fine with this set up. No rate increase so long as you follow the rules.
I continue to be curious how Easypark will look because no where have I found an explanation about it. Anyone know, or know where an explanation can be found?
The Corporation’s own website has the answer – Easypark is not integrated yet, they are still working on that. For now cash or plastic only.
If that is the case they need to COVER OVER that part of the sign, or they will have a lot of people following the mention of easy park on the sign, but not being able to use easy pay when they try to leave….
Dan.
another Corporation RIP OFF! guess they need to pay for their ridiculously high salaries somehow
This is what happens when people abuse the system. How else are they to make people pay. They had an honor system, people took advantage of it.
how is it a rip off???? if you don’t like the rate then don’t stay there for 8 hours – you can stay in bulls head and walk the extra 200 yards!!
Then they want to complain when people don’t “Buy Bermuda”.
Your pockets must be deep if you need more than three hours to park in town where the stores have absolutely nothing. However, City Hall has always been a 3 hour parking, so this shouldn’t impact those who do not abuse the system.
The Corporation is trying to make it easier to Buy Bermuda, not more difficult.
Short term parking = 3 hrs or less
Over stay then over pay.
Why is this so difficult to understand?
If you are getting all bent out of shape about it then chances are you are one of the ones that abused the system before.
Great idea as far as I am concerned, well done COH.
Seems difficult for some Bermudians to understand.
Any bike fees? Will buses be permitted to park within the City Hall CP?How about the lunch wagon fee? How about the car washers? Is ten minutes sufficient to avoid the fees? Curious minds wish to know?
No. Just your mind wants to know.
Read the Corporation press release from April and you will be fully informed.
Just wondering what stops me buying another ticket 5 hours after entering and using that ticket to exit?
Sure you can do this, but you’ll have to pay & drive out and then drive back in again. You can’t get a new ticket by just walking up to the machine.
I have a question put forward by my 9 year old daughter.
“Daddy, if the C of H does this all around Hamilton, will that mean that my Auntie (a Traffic Warden) and the others be all put out of a job?”
On another note, since everyone likes to lambaste the PLP, why didn’t the UBP make this a multi story parking lot in the first place?…(BEFORE Bullshead…before you smart people open your mouths)
What needs to happen C of H is to add MANY more bike parking spaces because one has to literally circle every block just to find one. Instead of planting those obtrusive jutted out sidewalks and taking valuable space so these restaurants can seat people in the walkways, you should have thought of the two-wheeled motorists
And lastly, WHY did you allow practically an entire block of parking spaces be given to the police?…and WHY aren’t the officers ticketed for parking their PERSONAL vehicles in those spots?…..because is not fair.
Also PLEASE remove the cycle parking bays at the traffic light on Court Street outside of the police station (travelling north) because this seriously impedes the traffic by blocking the left lane.
Whoever your engineers are they need to be fired for this idiotic design…but then again Hind..make him retire just like every other Bermudian has to when they reach that age!!!
What happens within the city limits of Hamilton is the responsibility of the COH, NOT the Government.
Why would traffic wardens be out of a job? They will need to be even busier chasing the street parking shufflers.
Totally agree on the lack of bike parking spaces. The COH should be encouraging the use of bikes to comute by providing more all day parking & much more short term bike parking. Having to ride round & round for a spot just to run in someplace for a quick errand is nuts.
Have not seen what is resered for police but did recently come across another example of police given way too much space. They have a huge amount of space reserved for them at the short term dock at Dockyard. Nowhere for somebody wanting to take a party to a restaurant & having a >25′ boat to dock. Bad enough that so many of the other short term slips seem to be occupied by fulltime squatters.
You should let your 9 year old know that street parking can’t be controlled with a barrier.
However if we could do without traffic wardens I wouldn’t shed many tears, frankly.
All valid points, so therefore expect no response and definitely no change to the foolishness you speak of. 5 truth-stifling herd members disliked already.
Eighty one dollars…nope…I won’t park there.
You can keep that car park.
Thank you but no…
How about if it were $2?
Don’t want to pay the fee for more than 4 hour parking, don’t park for more than 4 hours. How simple is that?
If you are not working in town what takes longer than 4 hours? City Hall carpark is intended to make parking available & convenient for shorterm parkers coming to town for shopping or other appointments, not allday parkers.
Parking at Bulls Head is cheap &, judging by the waistlines of many Bermudians, the walk will do them some good.
If you don’t like the new charges, don’t park there. I welcome the idea that there might actually be a space next time I go to tarn.
I see more online shopping. COP with their greed for money are killing the Hamilton retailers.
What about those ridiculous sidewalk extensions for restaurants? They take away a lot of parking options and most of them are not being used by the restaurants. They need to be removed. Hamilton is not a visitor friendly place. It’s very frustrating.
Yeah, no one goes to town these days. It’s too crowded.
Are you able to pay and leave the parking lot after three hours then pull back in and get another three hours?