Comments on: Liberty Square Parking Structure

By: TJ

TJ — Fri, 25 Oct 2013 13:54:34 +0000

This has happened to me in the past in a “standard pay” garage, the one between Church & Forest. I had the misfortune of leaving about the same time as all the construction workers who were leaving a job site, and waited in line 15-30 minutes, and had to pay more (plus had people waiting for me at my destination).

Whenever this kind of thing happens to me, I think “stochastic arrival times” – although I no longer remember what that phrase explains or how it might account for the situation!

By: John Hritz

John Hritz — Wed, 23 Oct 2013 20:43:19 +0000

Right, it was a major failure of queuing theory. There were also AASO folks leaving the Michigan Theater trying to get cellos and other large instruments on elevators. As for the charge-for-being-made-to-wait-in-line behavior, this was common at the old library surface lot. They would decide to close one of the two exits and then have a rush as an event ended. They would happily charge you for an additional time increment caused by the back up.

By: Vivienne Armentrout

Vivienne Armentrout — Tue, 22 Oct 2013 20:29:43 +0000

Thank you for clarifying. I didn’t understand the “re-charge” phrase.

Horrifying to think of the gasoline burned and global warming incited by this system. I avoid those structures with the self-pay machines and this just feeds my claustrophobic response to them.

By: Barbara

Barbara — Tue, 22 Oct 2013 20:18:34 +0000

I am glad the notice was passed on. That said, my main point was that 15 minutes to exit under full house situations is not enough time. It should be sufficient to show a receipt and be given a pass if it is within half an hour of payment. Double charge for waiting in line is an insult.

By: Sabra Briere

Sabra Briere — Tue, 22 Oct 2013 11:50:13 +0000

Ha! So did I.

At 4:45 yesterday afternoon, Susan wrote:
[V]ery glad you forwarded it along so we can figure out what happened. I know that one of the 4 elevators at Liberty Square is undergoing a 4-6 week major repair/equipment upgrade, but the other 3 elevators should be in working order. Not sure why the prepay machine wasn’t working, so will talk with Republic Parking to get more info. Many thanks.

By: Edward Vielmetti

Edward Vielmetti — Mon, 21 Oct 2013 22:29:34 +0000

I forwarded this posting to Susan Pollay and Joe Morehouse of the DDA, in the hopes of a response.