PPA Staff – Page 44 – The Philadelphia Parking Authority.

PPA To Enforce TNC Prohibition & Relax Regulation of Taxis in Philadelphia

(PHILADELPHIA) In a statement today, PPA Deputy Executive Director Corinne O’Connor said, “While we understand that TNC services (Uber X and Lyft) are very popular with the public and many elected officials want to see them continue, with the expiration of Act 85, TNC service in now illegal in Philadelphia and the PPA is committed to enforcing the law. As a result, the PPA is providing 48 hour notice that it will resume enforcement against illegal TNC service in Philadelphia.”

Regarding taxi regulations, O’Connor announced “immediate waivers of certain existing taxi regulatory requirements,” pending formal board approval and a full review and promulgation of new permanent regulations, as follows:

1. Upon installation of an approved camera system, operators may remove shields. Operators are free to propose alternative systems for approval, particularly in light of the fact that they may operate without a shield if they have a camera system.

2. While the 8 year age limit is statutory; we will Increase mileage limit to 350,000, consistent with PUC mileage limitations.

3. Waive requirement for semi-annual inspections until a vehicle reaches 200,000 miles.

4. Waive requirement for two-way radios, with the caveat that we will continue to demand compliance with the panic switch requirement to protect drivers.

5. We will allow operators to use stand-by vehicles to be used in the event of some problem which will cause the medallion vehicle to be out of commission; the Authority will determine an implementation plan within 30 days.

6. We will allow all driver training (standard and WAV) to be done by operators or third parties, provided that a training program and syllabus is first approved by the TLD. The Authority will continue to conduct training for those who do not wish to pursue other training. The Authority will continue to accept all driver applications for the processing of background checks and conduct testing for the issuance and renewal of driver certificates.

7. We invite and will expedite consideration of new meter technologies, and are willing to grant experimental/condition authority for such new technologies.

8. We invite and will expedite consideration of any petitioner for alternative rate arrangements (for example, differential rates applicable to trips book in advance through applications).

Concluding, O’Connor said, “we want to make clear that we will consider any other petition seeking a waiver of regulatory requirements to the extent it is permissible under law. We cannot waive or relax statutory requirements.”

Posted on 5 Oct 2016
By PPA Staff
In Blog

Parking Fails: Volume XI

Parking: To some it’s still a science that is beyond comprehension. Luckily the lack of parking comprehension still provides for some good comedy, as you’ll clearly see in this edition of Parking Fails.

Parking Fail #1

PSA: Chevy Silverados are now considered compact vehicles — at least in the mind of this driver.

Who knows? Maybe someone painted the word “compact” while the driver was shopping to make this look like an even bigger parking fail. Either way, it was parked squarely in the middle of two parking spots.

Parking Fail # 2

Apparently if you park illegally in this city, you’ll not only get the boot, but your car will also be marooned on a concrete island.

Seriously though — at that point, why didn’t they just tow the car?

On a side note: Take a look at how to avoid our boots here.

Parking Fail #3

This guy wanted to test his parallel parking skills at the expense of others in this parking lot.

Was this just merely an act of defiance? Or did this guy just legitimately think he was parking the right way?

You be the judge, but after scratching their heads in disbelief, a Parking Enforcement Office or a police officer would most definitely be giving this guy a ticket.

Spot an illegally parked vehicle in area we patrol? Let us know by calling 215-683-9775 and we’ll send someone out to take a look.

Posted on 21 Jul 2016
By PPA Staff
In Blog

Parking Fails: Volume X

Nothing good comes out of a bad park job. Think about it: Most of the time it’ll result in a ticket, and other times some people take a more aggressive approach to point out a parking mishap. In this edition of Parking Fails, we’re taking a brief look at those aggressive — and in some cases illegal — approaches.

Parking Fail # 1

OK, so we’re not sure if this is a prank or if someone was really ticked off at this guy’s park job.

Either way, this driver is going to have a longer commute home when they get wrapped up at work. In fact, they’ll probably have to run back to the office and grab a pair of scissors.

Parking Fail # 2

Let it be known that if you park incorrectly at this parking lot, your car will be vandalized beyond recognition.

A bit overboard? Yes.

Illegal? Most definitely.

Still an atrocious park job? You betcha.

Parking Fail # 3

This is a perfect example of getting the job done at all costs.

Painter: “Yo, boss. Finishing up the last spot, but someone is blocking it.”

Boss: “You know what to do.”

Alright, so this photo is likely edited, but it literally paints a good picture of how not to park in a public garage.

Remember: If you see an illegally parked car in an area we patrol, let us know by calling our communications line at 215-683-9775.

Posted on 24 Jun 2016
By PPA Staff
In Blog

Philly’s Art Scene and Where to Park

When you think of Philadelphia’s art scene, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? If it’s jogging up the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s steps while doing your best Rocky impression, you’re not quite right — but location-wise, you’re pretty close.

Think about it for a second: How long can you walk down a city block without being reminded that Philly has a robust art scene? If the countless murals weren’t enough of a reminder, just take a stroll down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway where these two gems are:

1. The Philadelphia Museum of Art
Arguably the city’s most famous and noticeable landmark, the Philadelphia Museum of Art boasts a world-renowned art collection of more than 227,000 pieces.

In fact, to make things even more enticing for visitors, the Museum of Art offers a Pay What You Wish entry fee on the first Sunday of every month and on Wednesdays from 5 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.

2. The Barnes Foundation

If you’re a fan of the arts, you may have collected a few nice pieces over the years, right? No offense, but the Barnes Collection will probably put it to shame.

Don’t be so hard on yourself though. It’s hard to compete with 3,000 masterpieces, including 181 Renoirs, 69 Cézannes, 59 Matisses, 46 Picassos, 16 Modiglianis, seven Van Goghs and much more.

By the way: On the first Sunday of each month, the Barnes Foundation offers free admission! Plan your trip ahead and get all the details here.

Now before heading to the Parkway to gaze at all the masterpieces, make sure you’re getting a cheap and convenient parking spot. Luckily we have two locations within close walking distance. Check out the locations below and get at us on X (formerly Twitter) or Facebook with any questions!

Gateway Parking Garage

Rates:

Up to 30 Minutes – $8.00
Up to 1 Hour – $16.00
Up to 2 Hours – $24.00
Up to 12 hours – $27.00
Over 10 hours – $30.00

Specials:

Weekend Rate – (Saturday and Sunday, must exit by Monday at 9 a.m.) – $12.00 per day

19th & Callowhill Lot

Rates:

Up to 1 hour – $10.00
Up to 2 hours – $14.00
Up to 12 hours – $20.00
Up to 24 hours – $32.00

Specials:

Weekends – $25.00 (Flat Rate Per Day)

Posted on 13 Apr 2016
By PPA Staff
In Blog

#TBT: The Terrible Tow

#TBT The Terrible Tow Tow trucks: Probably not the most popular topic of conversation among motorists, but believe it or not, they have quite a history. In fact, there’s actually a Towing Hall of Fame and Museum down in Chattanooga, TN.

Anyway, let’s get back to Philly. Back in the early 1900s tow trucks were actually tow trailers and were in use throughout the city. But if you compare the picture to the left with one of our current tow trucks, you can see there’s definitely been upgrades over the years.

Nowadays in the city, you’ve probably seen our tow trucks every so often. If you’ve been towed, here’s what to do to get back behind the wheel in three steps:

Call 1-888-591-3636 to confirm your vehicle has been towed. We will be able to tell you where your vehicle was taken.
After confirming where your vehicle is located you must pay all outstanding tickets as well as tow and storage fees, plus all outstanding tickets and fees on any previously owned vehicles. These payments can be made at the Parking Violations Branch at 913 Filbert Street, near the bus station, or the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) Impoundment Lot at 6 Oregon Avenue.
After making all outstanding payments, go to the impoundment lot where your vehicle is located. You can find a full list of our Impound Lots here. Upon arriving, you must present the following documents to our Impoundment Lot staff:

Your valid driver’s license
Proof of current insurance for the vehicle
Current vehicle registration
Cashier’s receipt(s) along with the accompanying Bureau of Administrative Adjudication (BAA)/Parking Violations Branch (PVB) Release Authorization for payment and/or adjudication of the tow and storage charges
Release authorization from the Philadelphia Traffic Court (only applies to vehicles impounded through Live Stop)

Posted on 13 Apr 2016
By PPA Staff
In Blog

What to Do if You’re Booted—And How to Avoid It in the Future

boot Most boots are meant for walking, but if you’ve been the recipient of one of our yellow boots, that means you have at least three or more unpaid parking or red light camera tickets.

In the long run the best way to avoid getting the boot is to not ignore your tickets.

Here’s the scoop: After you receive a parking ticket, you have the option to either pay or dispute it. But if you wait too long to pay or dispute your tickets, you could receive up to $65 in late fees to boot (no pun intended).

For the complete run-down on what happens to a ticket that’s just flat-out ignored, go here.

Now let’s get back to the boot. Let’s say you do have three or more unpaid parking or red light camera tickets and you come back to your car only to see a big ol’ yellow boot latched to it. Here’s what you need to do:

Pay the Outstanding Tickets and Boot Fee

Before a boot can be taken off your vehicle, all outstanding tickets and a $150 boot fee must be paid. To make payment on all outstanding tickets, please visit the Parking Violations Branch at 913 Filbert Street. If you are unable to make payment in full, you may inquire about enrolling in a payment plan.

Note: If you only have outstanding tickets on one vehicle, payment can be made over the phone at 1-888-591-3636.

Once payment is received, our booting crew will be notified to remove the boot from your car.

Have you been given the boot and have more questions? Let’s hear them on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook!

Posted on 11 Apr 2016
By PPA Staff
In Blog

Mother’s Day in Philly: What to do and Where to Park

When you think of Philadelphia’s history, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Being the first capital of the United States? Betsy Ross knitting the first American flag on Arch Street? Or how about the signing of the Declaration of Independence?

You get the point — Philadelphia’s history is filled with many firsts for the United States. The list goes on and on, but one piece of Philadelphia’s history tends to go unnoticed: Mother’s Day.

In 1908, a Philadelphian named Anna Marie Jarvis held the first ceremony to honor not only her mother, but all mothers around the world. Following this first ceremony, Jarvis tirelessly lead efforts to recognize Mother’s Day as an official holiday. After six years, Jarvis’s efforts paid off when President Woodrow Wilson declared Mother’s Day an official holiday in 1914.

Now, here we are in present-day Philadelphia for the 102st Mother’s Day. Aside from continuing to be any history buff’s dream, it’s also the perfect setting for treating the mother in your life to brunch, dinner or day out in the city. In fact, Visit Philadelphia offers some great ideas for your day out with mom. Check them out here.

Whether you’re wining and dining in Center City, or just taking a midday stroll through Old City, we can help you and your mom find convenient parking. After deciding how to spend your Mother’s Day, check which one of our garages best suites you, or feel free to use our parking locator!

Happy Mother’s Day!

Posted on 8 Apr 2016
By PPA Staff
In Blog

#TBT: America’s First Multi-Storey Parking Garage

Hotel Lasalle Garage Nowadays if you’re parking in a city, you can’t turn a corner without seeing a parking garage, right?

Believe it or not, parking garages weren’t always a thing, especially during the early years of automobiles. That all changed in 1918 with the Hotel La Salle Garage in Chicago.

Considered the first multi-storey parking garage in the U.S., the Hotel La Salle Garage set the stage for off-street parking convenience.

The idea was simple: Provide customers with a conveniently safe place to park their cars as streets became too crowded with vehicles. At the time, this concept was unheard of, but that’s exactly what the owners of Hotel La Salle did after hiring architects Holabird and Roche.

Sadly, after 87 years of service under its belt, the Hotel La Salle Garage was demolished in 2005. Attempts were made to preserve the garage as a landmark, but they never came to fruition.

Now let’s fast forward to 2016: Try turning a city corner without seeing a parking garage; you won’t have much luck. In fact, some parking garages will even do all the parking for you!

So the next time you’re parking in a garage, remember that it all started with the Hotel La Salle Garage.

Psst: While you’re here, take a look at the discounts offered at our garages.

Posted on 23 Mar 2016
By PPA Staff
In Blog

Parking Fails: Volume IX

Parking: Just like riding a bike or throwing a baseball, you either can do it well or you can’t do it at all. Whether it’s on the street, in a parking lot or garage, the shortfalls in parking are still alive and well, as you’ll see below. If you’ve missed our previous volumes, check them out here.

Parking Fail # 1

No bad park job goes unpunished — at least not in this parking lot.

Let this be yet another reminder that the painted lines are there for a reason. And if you take up two parking spots in a grocery store parking lot, people tend to cleverly send a message.

Parking Fail # 2

Okay, so there’s no way the driver knew this was going to happen, but it’s still a parking fail because, why not?

It figures. This guy parks in a garage to avoid the snow and ice, but that’s exactly what he got. Hopefully his defroster is up to snuff. Otherwise, he might have to use a flamethrower to wiggle his way out of there.

Also, where is this parking garage? At the top of Mount Everest?

Parking Fail # 3

“Good news, honey! I’ve converted our Ford Focus into a monorail!”

At least that’s the only rationale we could think of for this one. Or maybe this guy was making a submittal for Elon Musk’s Hyperloop concept. Either way, this guy should just stick to driving on the road, which apparently he’s already having issues with.

Remember: If you see an illegally parked car in an area that we patrol, let us know by calling our communications line at 215-683-9775.

Posted on 16 Mar 2016
By PPA Staff
In Blog

#TBT: Back to North Philly

#TBT North Philly Neighborhood lot 2 About a year ago, we went back to the 1990s to look at the groundbreaking ceremony of our North Philly neighborhood lot. We know: The black and white pictures make you think they’re from the ‘50s, but don’t be fooled.

Anyway, this month we’re taking another look at the groundbreaking ceremony, only this time around the attendees, which included State Representative Dwight Evans; PPA Chairman Herman Wooden; State Senator Alison Schwartz; and former Mayor of Philadelphia Wilson Goode, got their hands dirty as they broke ground for the construction project.

After construction was complete at 7100 Ogontz Avenue, the lot served the surrounding business district for nearly five years before being redeveloped. Now, instead of parking, you can gas up your car at M & J Market.

Speaking of redevelopment, if you haven’t heard yet, we’re completely revamping our 8th & Filbert Garage. To take a look the progress, check out the Transformation Series.

Also, if you commute to Philly by car on a daily basis, make sure you’re in the know on our Early Bird parking specials and discounted garage rates!

Any questions? Let’s hear them on Twitter or Facebook!

Posted on 25 Feb 2016
By PPA Staff
In Blog

AuthorPPA Staff