Gating and Payment System Upgrades at Ottawa Street Parking Deck Begin Monday, Jan. 12

JOLIET, IL - The City of Joliet is reminding residents and visitors that, beginning Monday, Jan. 12, the Ottawa Street Parking Deck located at 110 N. Ottawa St., will launch new automated parking infrastructure, including new gates, payment equipment and license plate recognition cameras. The upgrades also include the opening of a second exit lane, helping to speed egress from the facility. Beginning Jan. 12, the facility will also transition to 24/7 operations, with payment or permit required.

"Upgrading the facility will benefit everyone who parks downtown," said Greg Ruddy, City of Joliet Director of Public Works. "The new parking infrastructure will enable drivers to enter and exit the garage more quickly and will offer the ability to pay with cash, credit card, Apple or Google Pay."

Key upgrades include:

• License Plate Recognition (LPR) cameras at entrance and exit. The cameras will speed entry and exit into the facility.

• Elimination of the parking permit placards. The new LPR system will allow automatic, ticketless entry and exit to vehicles with valid, registered permits and license plates without the need to interact with the ticketing system. Permit holders will also be provided a garage access card.

• New payment options. The facility is transitioning from "cash-only" operations to now accepting credit cards or mobile payments. Payments can be made at a kiosk located on the first floor (near the elevator), via QR code (scannable at signage located throughout the facility), via credit card at the exits, or via Apple Pay or Google Pay using a mobile device. A first-floor payment kiosk will continue to accept cash payments.

• 24/7 operations. The automation allows the facility to now accept payments 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Facility exit and payment assistance will also be available 24/7.

Parking rates at the Ottawa Street Garage will remain unchanged. Hourly parking is $1 per hour, and a quarterly permit is $180 per quarter. Quarterly passes are available for purchase at the City of Joliet Customer Service windows at 150 W. Jefferson St.

For more information about downtown Joliet parking and transportation, visit https://www.Joliet.gov.

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About the City of Joliet
The City of Joliet is located in Will and Kendall counties in the State of Illinois, 30 miles (48 km) southwest of Chicago. It is the county seat of Will County. At the 2020 census, the city was the third largest in Illinois, with a population of 150,362. For more information about the city, visit https://www.joliet.gov.