Tag Archives for: Lancaster Parking Authority

Lancaster Parking Authority’s Christian Street Parking Garage Opens as Part of Ewell Plaza and New Public Library

May 03, 2022

 

 

 

 

Lancaster Parking Authority’s Christian Street Parking Garage Opens as Part of Ewell Plaza and New Public Library

 

 

LANCASTER, PA — The Christian Street Parking Garage, spearheading the future home of the Lancaster Public Library and 4,500 square feet of new retail space is opening to the public May 16, 2022.

The nine story, 359-space parking garage, located at 151 North Queen Street, will continue to fill a need in the downtown core. Even during Covid-19, demand for parking was strong, with wait lists at most of the authority garages.  The new garage will also serve direct access from the garage to tenants of the 101 NQ building, current home of Cargas and others.

The picture album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/wZ6K7yFpgNaeu9S59.

 

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Larry J. Cohen, Executive Director

lcohen@lancasterparkingauthority.com or 717-299-0907.

Lancaster Parking Authority Gears Up for Opening of New Multi-Faceted Parking Garage Project as Part of Ewell Plaza and New Public Library

January 18, 2022

 

 

Lancaster Parking Authority Gears Up for Opening of New Multi-Faceted Parking Garage Project as Part of Ewell Plaza and New Public Library

 

 

 

LANCASTER, PA — The construction of the Christian Street Parking Garage, future home of the Lancaster Public Library, new event space with green roof atop, 4,500 square feet of new retail space, and a direct pedestrian passageway from Queen Street to Christian Street is nearing completion.

As well, in Fall 2022, the statue honoring Barney Ewell, the Ewell Plaza landscape, and the installation of a colorful public art façade on the front of the garage and above the Lancaster Public Library will be complete.

The nine story, 325-space parking garage, located at 151 North Queen Street, will continue to fill a need in the downtown core. Even during Covid-19, demand for parking is strong, with wait lists at four of the seven LPA garages. The new garage will also serve direct access to tenants of the 101 NQ building, current home of LNP Media and Cargas.

When the garage was first proposed five years ago in 2017, the City of Lancaster and the Lancaster Parking Authority (LPA) recognized an opportunity to incorporate public art into the architectural façade of the new parking garage and asked that LPA utilize part of the project budget to design, fabricate, and install a creative backdrop to the emerging plaza. LPA agreed to redirect funds, the largest funds to public art in the history of the city, that would have otherwise been used to build a standard exterior.

The installation of the public art concludes a multi-year process that started with the formation of a selection committee to evaluate façade design proposals, including representatives from the Parking Authority, Public Library, Public Art Advisory Board, and the building’s architect and construction firms. Criteria for artist selection included a proven track record delivering similar projects safely, on time and on budget, including the ability to integrate public art into architectural façades.

Ultimately R&R Studios out of Miami, Florida, was selected and a design and engagement process was completed in 2021. Following the engagement process, LPA elected to proceed with the artistic concept that received the most community votes, entitled the New Lancaster Rainbow. The refined version of that concept will be presented to the LPA Board on January 27 at 8am so the façade project can move into the next phase of engineering.

The anticipated opening of the $34 million Christian Street Garage portion of the project will be March 1, 2022, with the remaining elements throughout 2022.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Larry J. Cohen, Executive Director lcohen@lancasterparkingauthority.com or 717-299-0907.

Lancaster Parking Authority: Daily Parkers can Pay for Prince Street Garage Parking BEFORE Returning to Vehicle

March 04, 2020

 

 

 

Lancaster Parking Authority: Daily Parkers can Pay for Prince Street Garage Parking BEFORE Returning to Vehicle

 

 

LANCASTER, PA. (March 4, 2020) ­­– As part of its efforts to enhance customer service, the Lancaster Parking Authority (LPA) is installing pay machines on the street-level lobbies of the Prince Street Garage to allow daily visitors to pay for parking before they return to their vehicles.

 

The additional method of payment, said Larry J. Cohen, executive director of the Lancaster Parking Authority, is the latest of a series of upgrades to the Prince Street Garage.

 

“Recently, we upgraded and opened all four exit lanes of the Prince Street Garage to help all customers exit more quickly, and we posted new signage,” said Cohen. “The installation of the pay-on-foot machines is one more upgrade to help in faster exiting from the garage.”

 

Daily parkers can find one pay machine on the street-level Orange St. elevator lobby (see photo below). The second pay machine is being installed on the street-level by the Orange St./Binn Park elevators.

 

Daily parkers need to remember to take their parking ticket with them when they leave their parked vehicles. Before returning to their parked vehicles, they should stop at the elevator lobby to pay for parking. The machines are easy to use – insert the parking ticket and pay using cash OR a debit/credit card (all major credit cards are accepted). Take the payment/receipt card and insert it at the exit lane.

 

As part of the pay machine upgrade, new machines are being installed at the four exit lanes, said Cohen. These machines will accept payment in the same way as was done previously:  daily parkers will insert their payment ticket and monthly parkers will tap their access card. Once all the exit lane machines are installed, ALL cash transactions for parking will be done at the pay machines near the elevators on the ground-level lobbies.

 

“These changes are part of our ongoing assessment of opportunities to enhance parking for our customers,” said Cohen. “We believe these changes will make it easier for both daily and monthly parkers to exit the Prince Street Garage.”

 

Lancaster Parking Authority Announces 2020 Change for Lancaster Change Recipient

February 04, 2020

 

 

 

Lancaster Parking Authority Announces

2020 Change for Lancaster Change Recipient

 

 

LANCASTER, PA. (Feb. 4, 2020) ­­– The Lancaster Parking Authority (LPA) today announced its 2020 Change for Lancaster Change recipient is the Power Packs Project.

 

The Change for Lancaster Change program gives the public the opportunity to support local non-profits by donating change in a repurposed parking meter located in the lobbies of LPA parking garages. Each collection meter includes a sign near it explaining the program and that all donations will be contributed to the charity. Currently, there are collection meters located in the elevator lobbies of the Prince Street and Penn Square garages.

The Power Packs Project is a “non-profit 501(c)(3) that aims to improve the mental and physical health of children by helping their parents provide nutritious meals over weekends when school breakfast and lunch programs are unavailable to them.”

It works in 45 schools in 13 school districts in Lancaster County and three school districts in Lebanon County. More than 500 volunteers help serve more than 1,600 families. The program sends “backpacks” home with qualified children each weekend with groceries and tools to provide complete weekend meals for families.

“Our goal is to provide another avenue of help to our local non-profits,” said Larry J. Cohen, executive director of the Lancaster Parking Authority. “We hope that our parkers and others take advantage of this program and contribute their spare change to help support local charities.”

Each year a new non-profit is chosen. Past recipients included the Boys & Girls Club of Lancaster, Milagro House, Make-A-Wish Foundation, and the Lancaster Public Library.

Last year, the LPA collected $500 in donations for the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank.

Lancaster Parking Authority Hosts Demolition Ceremony At Site of Christian Street Garage and Lancaster Public Library

September 30, 2019

 

 

 

Lancaster Parking Authority Hosts Demolition Ceremony

At Site of Christian Street Garage and Lancaster Public Library

 

 

 

LANCASTER, PA – The Lancaster Parking Authority hosted a public demolition ceremony today in Ewell Plaza, 151 N. Queen St., Lancaster. The ceremony was the symbolic end to the last standing section of the concrete structure at the former Lancaster Square location.

 

The old annex will be demolished for the new Christian Street Garage, Lancaster Public Library and retail space, said Larry J. Cohen, executive director of the Lancaster Parking Authority. The new building will be constructed on the north side of the new Ewell Plaza along N. Christian St.

 

Cohen was joined by City of Lancaster Mayor Danene Sorace; Ray D’Agostino, chair, Lancaster CRIZ Authority; Nicholas Boyer, president, Lancaster Public Library Board of Trustees, and Kim Bracey, executive director of the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services at the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

 

“Today, it’s time to begin anew,” said Cohen. “Lancaster Parking Authority is leading the way in bringing the last piece of the revitalization of Ewell Plaza to fruition after all these years of dormancy.”

 

“For years, whenever anyone talked about the old, abandoned Lancaster Square concrete structure people wanted to ‘tear it down,’” said Cohen. “I thought it was only appropriate to officially kick off the revitalization by leading the group in a chorus of ‘tear it down, tear it down.’”

 

The group took turns using a sledgehammer to break up pieces of a concrete pillar, symbolically clearing the way for the new construction. Demolition is scheduled for October through January.

 

“We are proud to be the developer of a project of this magnitude that will create lifelong positive impact on the City, with beautiful new public art, retail and the parking to support the entire development,” said Cohen.

 

The $28 million construction cost of the project will be covered by Lancaster Parking Authority bonds and additional funding provided through the CRIZ Authority, said Cohen.

www.lancasterparkingauthority.com

Lancaster Parking Authority Garages are Now Tobacco-Free Facilities

June 04, 2019

 

 

 

Lancaster Parking Authority Garages are Now Tobacco-Free Facilities

 

 

 

LANCASTER, PA. (June 4, 2019) – Lancaster Parking Authority garages and offices are now tobacco-free, which means there can be no smoking of cigarettes or cigars, or use of electronic smoking devices such as e-cigarettes or Juuls.

 

To introduce the change to the public, the LPA and Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health will host a table outside the Prince Street Garage for First Friday activities on June 7 from 5-8 p.m. The table will be located at the corner of W. Orange and N. Prince Sts. City of Lancaster Mayor Danene Sorace is expected to stop by to show her support and greet visitors.

“Thanks to the Lancaster Parking Authority for taking this step,” said Sorace. “It’s important to provide clean air for everyone. Nobody enjoys walking through a cloud of smoke.”

 

Included at the table will be information on the LPA tobacco-free garages and offices, tobacco and vaping resources and opportunities to show your support for clean air. One prop will be a picture frame for people to take selfies and post photos with the hashtag #CleanAirLanc.

 

“We have made this change to help improve the quality of air inside our parking garages,” said Larry J. Cohen, CAPP, executive director of the Lancaster Parking Authority. “It’s clear that second and third-hand smoke is bad for people and we want to do our best to keep the air clean and healthy for people to breathe.”

 

Cohen said that signs have been posted both outside and inside the six parking garages owned and managed by the LPA. The tobacco-free signs illustrate no smoking of cigarettes or cigars, no use of electronic smoking devices such as e-cigarettes or Juuls.

 

“A tobacco-free environment helps create a safer, healthier workplace. Thanks to the Lancaster Parking Authority for leading the way,” said Alice Yoder, Executive Director Community Health for Lancaster General Health. “We applaud the Parking Authority for making the commitment to improving the health and well-being of their employees and community members who use their facilities.”

 

“We want to lead by example and make clean air a priority in our facilities.” said Cohen.

 

 

Lancaster Parking Authority Earns Accredited Parking Organization Distinction

March 18, 2019

 

 

 

Lancaster Parking Authority Earns Accredited Parking Organization Distinction

 

 

 

 

LANCASTER, PA – The Lancaster Parking Authority (LPA) has earned the designation of Accredited Parking Organization (APO).

 

 

Shawn Conrad, CEO, of the International Parking & Mobility Institute (IPMI) presented the APO credential to Larry J. Cohen, CAPP, executive director of the LPA, at the organization’s monthly board meeting. City of Lancaster Mayor Danene Sorace read a congratulatory resolution from Lancaster City Council and give brief remarks. Angie Eichelberger, district director, read a certificate of recognition from Pennsylvania State Senator Scott Martin’s office.

 

“The APO credential recognizes best practices in responsible parking management and operations, customer service, professional development, sustainability, IT, marketing, safety and security, and more,” said Conrad. “To earn it, the Lancaster Parking Authority was subject to a strict quality review of more than 250 criteria in 14 categories as examined by third-party reviewers.”

 

“We are proud that the Lancaster Parking Authority joins an elite and progressive community of parking and transportation organizations, some of the very first to earn the designation since its launch in mid-2015,” said Sorace. “The Lancaster Parking Authority is one of only 22 organizations nationwide who have earned the prestigious APO designation.”

 

“It’s an honor to receive this accreditation and know that we have demonstrated that follow best practices in the industry,” said Cohen. “The APO designation shows that the Lancaster Parking Authority can operate at the same high standards as larger parking organizations.

 

“Over the years, the LPA has worked diligently on improving policy and procedures in all aspects of operations,” said Cohen. “This APO credential shows our commitment to ongoing evaluation and quality improvement.

The APO designation is a benchmark of quality, said Conrad.

 

“Parking at an accredited facility or operation assures the public that the parking organization adheres to a strict code of ethics and meets national and internationally endorsed standards for professionalism, accountability, responsibility, and performance,” added Conrad.

From left, Lancaster Parking Authority Deputy Executive Director Susan Bleecher and Executive Director Larry J. Cohen, CAPP, accept the Accredited Parking Organization credential from Shawn Conrad, CEO, International Parking & Mobility Institute.

www.lancasterparkingauthority.com

 

 

Lancaster Parking Authority Installs AEDs in Garages and Facilities

February 05, 2019

 

 

 

 

Lancaster Parking Authority Installs AEDs in Garages and Facilities

 

 

 

LANCASTER, PA.  – The Lancaster Parking Authority has installed eight automated external defibrillators (AEDs), in six garages and offices to help individuals who might experience a sudden cardiac arrest. Anyone can use the devices and individuals attempting to save a life are covered by the Good Samaritan state statute that protects them from being sued.

 

 

 

AEDs are medical devices that can check the rhythm of the heart and deliver electrical shocks – or defibrillation – when needed, to help those experiencing sudden cardiac arrest re-establish an effective heart rhythm. If a heart stops beating suddenly, an AED can be used to help prevent a death.

 

“In our efforts to be proactive within the community, we added AEDs to potentially save lives in our facilities,” said Larry J. Cohen, CAPP, LPA executive director, adding that 19 LPA employees have completed the AED training and have also been certified in Red Cross First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) courses.

 

The AEDs are available for use by trained individuals and others in an emergency. Housed in white boxes with alarms, the AEDs can be accessed by pushing open the box (alarm will continue until the door is closed). The AEDs come with step-by-step audio instructions for use in both English and Spanish. In addition, the AEDs include CPR feedback advice, for example, telling the person doing CPR to push faster or harder.

 

The AEDs have a visible white AED sign and are located found near stairwells and exit lanes in LPA garages:

 

  • North Queen Street Garage, 424 N. Queen St. – Two on the bottom floor of both stairwells.
  • Penn Square Garage, 25 E. Vine St. – Pedestrian entrance to the stairwell off of Duke St.
  • Duke Street Garage, 150 N. Duke St. – Bottom floor of stairwell entrance from Duke St.
  • East King Street Garage, 150 E. King St. – Above the stairwell from King St. entrance.
  • Prince Street Garage, 111 N. Prince St. – Beside the far-right exit lane.
  • Water Street Garage, 220 N. Water St. – Bottom floor of the stairwell closest to garage entrance.
  • LPA Office, 30 W. Orange St. – Employee lobby.

 

For more information, follow the LPA Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/lancasterparkingauthority/).

 

Lancaster Parking Authority Releases New Strategic Plan

September 14, 2018

 

 

Lancaster Parking Authority Releases New Strategic Plan

 

 

 

LANCASTER, PA.  – The Lancaster Parking Authority (LPA) has approved a new strategic plan to guide its direction and operation through 2021. The plan, approved by the Board of Directors at its Aug. 23 meeting, is available here, or by visiting the www.lancasterparkingauthority.com, selecting the General Info tab on the top navigation bar, and choosing Strategic Plan.

 

 

 

The plan has four focus areas: communications and hospitality; long-term planning; human resources development, and strategic engagement. Each area includes priorities, action steps, and ways to measure success.

 

“This plan was developed with extensive public input,” said Larry J. Cohen, CAPP, executive director of the Lancaster Parking Authority. “We asked the public to tell us what they think, and we used what we heard to help plan our future direction.”

 

Public input was gathered at a spring public meeting and from more than 300 completed online-surveys, said Cohen. Stakeholder interviews, a Board planning session, and work by LPA staff were also part of the process, he said. The Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations (PANO) led the planning process.

 

“Our new board is directing the LPA to be a partner to help promote the City in specific ways that benefit residents, businesses and the people who visit,” said Cohen.

 

The LPA also made changes to its mission, now focusing on “supporting the livability, growth and development of the city for the benefit of residents, businesses and visitors.”

 

“It was a lengthy planning process, but well worth the time and investment. This plan will guide our direction through 2021,” said Cohen, who added that this is the third strategic plan produced under his leadership.

 

“As Lancaster continues to grow, we want to be strategic in our planning and be seen as a valued partner and resource for the city,” said Cohen.

 

The Lancaster Parking Authority (LPA) is a self-supporting municipal authority incorporated in 1967 under the Commonwealth’s parking authority law of 1947, to serve the City’s needs. It is governed by a five-member board, appointed to staggered five-year terms by the Mayor of Lancaster, and administered by an executive director and staff.

 

 

LPA Executive Director Larry J. Cohen, CAPP, Elected to 2018 International Parking Institute Board

June 13, 2018

 

 

LPA Executive Director Larry J. Cohen, CAPP,

Elected to 2018 International Parking Institute Board

 

 

 

LANCASTER, PA. (June 13, 2018) – Lancaster Parking Authority Executive Director Larry Cohen, CAPP, was recently elected to the 2018 International Parking Institute Board of Directors. The IPI Board of Directors is the voice of the membership and plays an instrumental role in directing initiatives to advance the profession.

 

 

“I am honored to be elected to the IPI board of directors and look forward to joining colleagues from around the globe,” said Cohen. “Serving on this board will give me access to and knowledge of the best practices in the parking and mobility industry.”

 

Cohen has more than 25 years of experience in the parking and transportation industry. Before joining the LPA, he owned and operated a parking company in Philadelphia, Pa; served as vice president of parking planning for a New York City consulting firm; and was the past director of parking and transportation at the George Washington University, Johns Hopkins, and University of Pennsylvania Health Systems. Cohen also served eight years as president of the Middle Atlantic Parking Association. Cohen is a frequent author and speaker on industry topics.

www.lancasterparkingauthority.com

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