Sewickley parking to include new rates, fines and time limits

There have been many changes to the Sewickley Parking Authority this year, the latest among them impacting rates, time limits and fines.

But it’s not all bad news for Sewickley parkers. The three-hour time limit in Zone 1 has been lifted, and enforcement hours have been reduced to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.

Before enforcement was suspended in mid-March because of the pandemic, drivers had to pay from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays in both zones. Sundays remain free.

“It’s an unprecedented challenge we’re working through now,” authority Chairwoman Cynthia Mullins said.

Mullins, Julie Barnes and Larry Rice, all borough council members, are new to the authority, having been appointed May 1.

Beginning in the new year, the authority extended enforcement hours and implemented a three-hour time limit in Zone 1. At the time, the authority was comprised of Brian Turk, Sandra Marr and Andreas Schultze Ising, who were operating under decisions made by the previous five-member board.

“We’re building on the work of two previous boards,” Mullins said during a special meeting June 10.

During the meeting, the authority approved a tiered pricing system. Previously, the cost was $1 per hour for both zones. Now, the first three hours in Zone 1 are $1 an hour. Every hour after costs $2 per hour. Someone who parks in Zone 1 all day — 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. — would therefore pay $13, which is $5 more than the previous system.

In Zone 2, though, the cost is reduced to 50 cents per hour.

There is a 50-cent minimum transaction in both zones.

Zone 1 enforcement went into effect June 15. Zone 2 will take effect July 15.

The authority said all machines have been cleaned, and they will consider placing hand sanitizer at meters and posting notices to use the Meter Feeder parking app.

Fines also have changed, with a ticket paid within four days costing $15 and jumping to $30 when paid after four days.

Previously, a parking ticket was $10.

“If it’s going to cost $13 to park all day, you don’t care if you get a ticket for $10,” Mullins said. “So we thought tickets should be $15.”

Rice, board treasurer, said the authority is operating while not taking in any funds. He reported there is about $238,000 left to pay on the loan that was taken out in 2016 for the pay stations. The authority pays $6,200 a month toward that loan.

More information about the parking authority is available at sewickleyborough.org.

*This story has been updated to include the reduced minimum transaction.