The municipal parking lot located between School St. and Church. St (WNG file photo).
WESTFIELD—In order to better notify residents who utilize downtown-area parking lots, the city is looking to install a lighting notification system in several city off-street parking lots for use during snow emergency parking bans.
The city is looking to install six blue lights with signage in municipal parking lots that residents use for regular parking as early as next month. The lights will be used in conjunction with the robocall system the city currently uses to notify parking permit holders of any parking lots that may be closed during snow emergencies.
“For people we aren’t able to contact we will have blue lights out there so they are
A snow emergency parking sign located in a Westfield mnuicipal parking lot. (WNG file photo)
aware that there will be snow removal,” Peter Miller, Director of Community Development in Westfield, said.
“People rely on those lots for their primary parking but we need to effectively remove snow,” he said.
Miller said that they will start by installing a total of six units in lots on Franklin Street, Thomas Street, the Depot Square lot and a lot between School Street and Church Street, with the aim of having the devices and signs installed by mid-December. Then, they may look to expand afterward to other lots.
The municipal parking lot located between School St. and Church. St (WNG file photo).
“I think as time goes on we will look to put them into all the lots. We need to communicate that the lots need to be clear,” Miller said. “It’s difficult on police and [the Department of Public Works] people who are out there.”
The city is still in the process of gathering final quotes for the cost but Miller estimated that they will cost about $6,500 each with installation.
The funds, according to Miller, will be coming from the Off-Street Parking Account, which he said is a revolving account that garners funds from those who purchase monthly and yearly parking permits.
