www.cityofbranson.org 1CITY OF BRANSON 110 W. Maddux Branson, MO 65616 417-334-3345 Public Information Department jadams@cityofbranson.org News Release September 27, 2007 CONTACT: Mark Hartman, Hilton Hotels of Branson, 243-3410 Jerry Adams, city of Branson, 334-3345 New downtown parking garage to begin charging October 1 New system allows patrons to pay on foot rather than from car Motorists who pull into the new Pacific Street Parking Garage on Monday will have to pay to park. Following five months of free parking in the 500-space garage across from the Branson Convention Center that officially opened earlier this month, the city will begin charging fees to pay for the multi-level structure. Hilton Hotels, which now manages the two Hilton Hotels downtown and the convention center, will also manage the parking garage under an agreement with the city. The fees are as follows: free for the first 30 minutes; $2 for 30 minutes to two hours; $4 for two to four hours; $6 for four to six hours and $8 for the maximum daily rate or overnight parking. A limited number of monthly passes for the parking garage is available for businesses and individuals at a cost of $25, According to Mark Hartman, general manager of Hiltons of Branson, a new type of payment system has been installed at the garage that he says will eliminate long lines of vehicles at the exit gates. “People will pay on foot at kiosks located at the pedestrian exits of the garage,” said Hartman. When motorists arrive at the entrance to the garage, they will take a ticket from the arm gate. Upon returning to the garage, patrons slip their tickets into the kiosks set up at each of the pedestrian accesses on Sycamore and Commercial streets and pay for the allotted time before walking to their vehicles. The kiosk returns a card that they insert at the vehicle exit. “Paying before you get to your car will speed up the ability of cars to leave the garage in a timely manner,” said Hartman. Hartman said persons or businesses interested in purchasing monthly passes should contact Michel Scanlan at Hilton Hotels at 243-3560. More than 80 free parking spaces will still be available at other lots downtown including the upper level of the Reich Parking Garage next to the new garage and the Awbery Parking Lot on Commercial Street. The bottom two floors of the Reish Garage are private valet parking for customers of the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel.