Thursday, September 04, 2014
MAHC Standardizes Parking Systems, Adjusts Rates
Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare is standardizing and aligning the parking systems and parking rates across our sites and for the first time in several years will be implementing a rate change to the public parking system to take effect in early September.
The most significant change to the parking system is converting public parking at the South Muskoka Memorial Hospital Site from a flat fee (by token) to a more flexible time-based structure. In Bracebridge, public parking will be available in the main visitor lot off of Ann Street, with overflow parking in the lot closest to Liddard Street.
Under the ticketed, time-based system, the driver takes a ticket stub upon entering the parking lot, and keeps it on their person. Just prior to exiting the building, the driver validates the ticket at a pay-on-foot station inside the hospital lobby area by putting the ticket stub into the machine and making payment via credit card or cash. The driver then has approximately 15 minutes to use the ticket stub to open the gate at exit.
The new fee structure for both sites will be $3 for the first half-hour, and $2 for each subsequent half hour to a per visit maximum of $7. Parking rates for the first 15 minutes will be free of charge. Both sites will maintain the weekly parking rate of $30, the monthly parking rate of $50, and the six-month parking rate of $240. The new rate is comparable with what other hospitals in the North Simcoe Muskoka LHIN are charging.
“Our parking rates have gone unchanged for several years despite the rising costs of parking lot maintenance,” explains Natalie Bubela, Chief Executive Officer. “As we continue to operate with reduced funding under Health System Funding Reform, MAHC, like all hospitals, is expected to look at all opportunities to reduce operating costs and increase revenue. Parking is one of very few revenue-generating activities available to hospitals and parking revenue supports direct patient care, and helps to offset the cost of parking lot maintenance, including snow removal.”
At Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare, all parking revenues belong to the hospital. A third party does not receive any of the revenue.
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