Parking Rates set for New Transit Center Downtown

PARTA to start charging in July for deck parking

Drivers now know what they'll be expected to pay once PARTA starts charging for its 365 spaces in the new Kent Central Gateway transit center downtown. PARTA released the rates, which are as follows: Drivers will have free access to the deck's five parking levels through May and June, as PARTA is awaiting delivery and then installation of the pay collection machines that will manage the deck. Bryan Smith, director of planning for PARTA, said they will have the ticket booths in place to start charging for parking on July 8. Rates will be posted for special events, and drivers who lose their ticket will have to pay the maximum rate. PARTA will offer office and monthly passes, and drivers should call the transit agency for rates and …

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G Myers

6:04 pm on Wednesday, May 22, 2013

ya think? lol   more ›

PARTA Seeks Input on Future Planning Endeavors

County transit agency wants public comments on Transportation Development Plan

Tonight Kent-area residents have the chance to help guide the future planning and operations of the Portage Area Regional Transportation Authority. PARTA officials will hold one of eleven public meetings throughout the county in Kent City Council chambers at 6 p.m. looking for input from residents of Kent, the Village of Brady Lake and Franklin Township on future strategic planning moves by the transit agency. David Kotting, the consultant managing the planning process, said this series of meetings is part of PARTA's Transportation Development Plan, which is a periodic responsibility of all publicly-supported transit systems. "The planning process is not about routes or schedules, but rather the strategic opportunities that we can define …

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Kent Artist to Create Memorial at Transit Center

George Danhires' proposal for a veterans memorial at the Kent Central Gateway will be built and installed at the site this year

A Kent artist whose work already has a prominent place downtown has been chosen to create a veterans memorial at PARTA's Kent Central Gateway transit center, which opened this month on Erie Street. Danhires, who created the Bicentennial Sculpture that stands on Franklin Avenue near the gazebo, was selected from three finalists to create a bronze sculpture on a site at the eastern end of the transit center property. His creation for the Bicentennial Sculpture, dedicated in September 2011, was developed via a lost-wax procedure that will be used again to create the veterans memorial. PARTA's selection committee chose Danhires' proposal in December. His contract stipulates the sculpture will be delivered in time for Veterans Day on Nov. 11. …

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Parking and Social Media in Kent — #DTownBuzzKill?

"In the spirit of early intervention I thought it might make sense to share some thoughts on the topic of paid parking in Kent," the city manager said in his most recent blog about parking downtown.

Parking. It's been a hot topic in Kent for awhile now.  Many are happy with some improvements, and the fact that the new garage is free this month, but many are griping about the cost to park on social media, according to Kent City Manager Dave Ruller in his most recent blog.  Patch asked its readers on Facebook about their thoughts on parking downtown. Here's what they had to say.  With the news that parking at the PARTA deck is free until April, Ruller said he's noticed "the social networks have started to light up with questions of paying for parking in downtown Kent. In particular we’re hearing some rumbling about the prospect of metered parking stations planned for later this year on certain downtown streets." So here's the answer: …

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PARTA Deck Opens for Parking Downtown

Drivers will be able to park free through May

With little public fanfare, the 365 public parking spaces in PARTA's Kent Central Gateway transit center opened downtown Tuesday. The bus transfer and commercial spaces in the deck have yet to open, but many Kent residents and business owners cheered the opening of the parking spaces virtually with "likes" and positive feedback spreading like wildfire on social media. Frank Hairston, director of marketing for PARTA, said drivers who pulled into the deck when it opened at 7 a.m. Tuesday flashed the thumbs up to transit authority administrators gathered for the early opening. "If you go online, everybody’s saying that ‘Hey I get a parking space downtown!'" Hairston said. "And they’re all happy right now. There’s still work going on the …

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Kent to Host U.S. Transportation Secretary Friday

Ray LaHood will tour PARTA's Kent Central Gateway, for the second time, Friday

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood will visit Kent Friday, for the second time, to tour the construction site of PARTA's Kent Central Gateway Transit Center. LaHood visited Kent in 2010 to sign the grant award for the transit center project, which was awarded the first-ever TIGER grant of $20 million. The grant pays for the bulk of the transit center, which will feature 365 public parking spaces and 10 bus transfer bays when it opens this spring in downtown Kent. In 2010, LaHood toured the area of downtown Kent that since has been vastly redeveloped in large part due to the parking deck and bus transfer center. The nation's transportation secretary wrote about his visit on his blog for the U.S. Department of Transportation. Look for …

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Transit Center to Open in March for Parking

PARTA plans grand opening of Kent Central Gateway later in 2013

Drivers will be able to park their cars in PARTA's new Kent Central Gateway transit center and parking deck some time next month. The transit agency is on track to open the parking portion of the transit center, with its 365 public parking spaces, by the end of March. Bryan Smith, director of planning for PARTA, said exactly when next month the parking deck opens will depend on the weather. The 10-bus bay transit element of the Kent Central Gateway won't open until later this year after the reconstruction of Erie Street between Haymaker Parkway — where a new intersection will be built — and South DePeyster Streeet. "And that requires asphalt," Smith said. PARTA also didn't want to open the transit portion of the new center before the end …

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Aaron D

5:45 am on Monday, March 11, 2013

Stop asking for handouts and complaining!   more ›

PARTA Subcontractor Appealing Citations Related to Worker's Death

Lockhart Concrete Co. employee died March 27 after accident at construction site for PARTA's Kent Central Gateway transit center.

An Akron company is appealing two workplace-safety citations it was issued in connection to the March 2012 death of one its employees at the construction site for PARTA's Kent Central Gateway transit center. Lockhart Concrete Co. worker Russell Hirschfelt, 49, of Barberton, was walking between a stack of concrete panels and the rear of a 2006 Caterpillar excavator just before 11 a.m. March 27 when the excavator moved and pinned him between the machine and concrete. Hirschfelt died that evening at Akron City Hospital due to injuries sustained in the accident. Lockhart Concrete is appealing the two citations it received for “serious” violations from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, according to …

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Editor's Picks: Top Stories of 2012

Editor's Picks: Construction Worker Dies in PARTA Site Accident

Obama Rally at Kent State Touches on Themes of Opportunity, Success (VIDEO)

Editor's note: For the most part, downtown Kent's $100 million redevelopment has been full of nothing but positive news for the Tree City and its surrounding communities. But that work came with a price to bear for a Barberton, OH family. Russell Hirschfelt, 49, of Barberton, died in March 2012 after an accident at the construction site for PARTA's Kent Central Gateway transit center. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the U.S. Department of Labor are investigating the sub contractor Lockhart Concrete, which employed Hirschfelt. OSHA has not issued any penalties so far. For 2012, this story is one of my picks for top 10 stories of the year. RELATED COVERAGE:

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