The Kent Central Gateway parking rates will become effective July 29. The daily parking rates vary depending on the length of time, and parking rates will differ for special events.
The rates are as follows:
- The first 30 minutes - Free
- 30 minutes to one hour - $1
- One hour to an hour and a half - $2
- One hour and a half to two hours - $3
- Two hours to three hours - $4
- Three hours to 24 hours - $5
The maximum rate is paid for lost tickets, and there are no in-and-out privileges. Anyone staying at the Kent State University Hotel and Conference Center can see the front desk for overnight rates.
“The Kent Central Gateway increased transit accessibility and emphasized multimodal transportation,” says Frank Hairston, director of marketing for the Portage Area Regional Transportation Authority (PARTA). “There are bicycle amenities, hike and bike trails, an opportunity to park and an opportunity to ride to Akron and Cleveland. The Kent Central Gateway is a vital civic space that will contribute to the health, safety and sustainability of the Kent and Portage County communities for generations to come.”
Hairston believes the parking deck will bring more visitors to Kent from other cities.
PARTA received a $20 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program. The Kent Central Gateway created 266 construction jobs and 703 long-term jobs.
The new multimodal transportation facility will combine elements of buses, pedestrians, bicycles and cars, and will serve as a transfer point that allows bus transport to Akron, Cleveland and all points in Portage County. Located at Erie and Depeyster streets with a curb cut into Haymaker Parkway, the Kent Central Gateway project is estimated to stimulate $60 million worth of new investment, both public and private, in Kent.
For more information about PARTA, visit www.partaonline.org.