EasyPark, parking services division of the Anchorage Community Development Authority, has established new 2016 rates and programs that will be effective July 1, 2016.
The last rate review that Anchorage experienced was in 2008. “The 2016 rate increase is part of an overall strategy to improve garage operations, particularly in the areas of maintenance, security, aesthetics, and technology,” said Parking Director, Brian Borguno. “The 2016 rates maintain EasyPark’s position as one of the most affordable cities to park in the United States.”
EasyPark staff met and gathered feedback with downtown business stakeholders, participated in public meetings with the Anchorage Assembly, Anchorage Economic Development Corporation, Anchorage Downtown Partnership, Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Community Council, and conducted several surveys that included: Monthly Parkers; Business Owners; and Hourly Parkers. “Our meetings with the downtown business community along with the surveys that we collected provided us valuable information on how we would implement parking rates and programs,” said Borguno.
1st hour free parking will be instituted at the 5th & B parking garage, due to the success of the 1st hour free program at the JCPenney parking garage and to encourage shopping in downtown Anchorage. “With the addition of The Rooftop, Anchorage’s newest outdoor park at the 5th & B parking garage and the new shopping stores at the 5th Avenue Mall, we anticipate the public will choose to park in the 5th & B parking garage,” said Borguno. “1st hour free is another added benefit for those parkers.”
In cooperation with the 5th Avenue Mall, a pilot parking program for employees that work part-time and/or at a lower pay scale will be established for the 5th Avenue Mall workers beginning during the month of July. Workers who sign up for the program will receive reduced parking rates. “The discounted employee parking program will be designed to give employees an affordable alternative to the current parking rates and will encourage the potential workforce to work in downtown Anchorage,” said Borguno.
EasyPark will be expanding street meter days of operations to include Saturday. Meter payment will be required Monday-Saturday from 9am-6pm to encourage workers to not park on the street, which will open up street parking to the shoppers that come to downtown Anchorage. PaybyPhone street pricing will not increase to encourage parkers to use the mobile phone payment instead of their cash or credit card. For more information about PaybyPhone, visit www.paybyphone.com.
*********************************************
EasyPark is the brand name of the parking services operated by Anchorage Community Development Authority (ACDA). ACDA is a public corporate authority for the Municipality of Anchorage. ACDA's parking division, EasyPark, manages more than 6,000 parking spaces in downtown Anchorage.
