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The following is a summary of the multiple email exchange I had with the person who could give me answers.  There are still a few unanswered questions that I would like a resolution to.  If I hear back, I will update this post.  The emails are saved and can be provided upon request, but I will remove any email addresses, names and phone numbers. Most of the emails I sent had grammatical/spelling errors due to my emails being sent from my phone.

What is Premium Parking?

The new Premium Parking program at the Braintree Station Garage offers participants the opportunity for a reserved space, with 24/7 access, at the most convenient location across from the Station entrance. The cost for the program is $200 per month

How was this marketed?

Flyers were handed out 3 times at the garage exit and flyers were put on windshields 3 more times. (following is my estimation) 1281 cars can park at the garage, which means 7686 flyers were handed out.

Any information on the mbta or lazparking websites or on the pay in advance box to market the campaign?

No

When was the marketed start date?

According to my contact, Tuesday, May 31st.  Not sure if people paying for June got a free day.  Flyer does not indicate start date, nor does sign.  Premium Parking Flyer

How many people signed up?

6.  23 spots, which were previously park in advance spots, were set aside for the kick start of the program.  My contact indicated 20 spots were reserved.  (Had to correct his initial estimate)  The six new “Premium Parking” spots are also the farthest point away from the station entrance.

How many people were towed on the 6/1?

12, according to tow truck driver

Why was I towed on either the first or second day of the program?

Because common sense would indicate that if you did not understand a sign, you should have tried another garage to be on the safe side.  You could have also asked one of the employees at the garage.

I noticed that the MBTA website was updated, the 1-6 Pay in Advance box slots are covered and there are cones in the reserved spots.  When did that happen?

Website updated in the afternoon of 6/2.  Slots covered and cones added on 6/3.

After I sent my first email asking for an explanation?  

No answer

How much revenue is this going to generate?

Once all 44 spots are put aside, $105,600 (44 x $200 x 12)

But these 44 spots were previously making money?

(My estimate) These spots are filled 5 days a week at $7 a day.  Lets say these spots will make another $7 per week for weekend parking and people using the spots at night. 44 * $7 = $308 a day.  $308 *6 days a week = $1848.  $1848 * 4 weeks a month = $7392.  $7392 * 12 months a year = $88,704.  Maximum amount of revenue this can generate is $16,896 a year,$46.29 a day, $1  a day per spot.  (Still not refuted)

Who is managing the program?

Laz Parking is allowing the MBTA to manage the program.

Why not just call it “Monthly Parking”?

No answer

If the MBTA is managing the program, why did a Laz employee authorize the tow?

No answer

Why didn’t the employee just explain to the riders what the spots were for?

No answer

Why wasn’t a MBTA employee on site for the first couple of days to explain the program?  Maybe you could have gotten a couple of people to sign up?

No answer

How do I go about filing a complaint?

No answer

Can I get my $198.10 tow fee refunded?  Actually, $198, the tow truck driver ate the dime.  He really was a good guy.  I hope you keep using him.

(This was a new question)

If I can’t get my tow free refunded, can I at least get a voucher for the $7 I put in the Pay in Advance box?

(This was a new question)

Why not tow cars that are parked who take up 2 spots?

We (Transit Police) do ticket those who park on multiple spaces.

How many people are utilizing the spots?

(My observation) After 4 work days, there have been at most 2 cars parked in the 6 reserved spots.

I thought it was $7 to park in the pay in advance spots and why is there a T truck now parked across from the “Premium Parking” spots?

Around 6:30, I got off the train and walked towards my car. I noticed two officers (not sure if town or MBTA) and thought that was odd.  I then looked ahead to my car and noticed it was gone.  The officer was nice enough to give me the number to the tow company.  He wasn’t sure what the new program was.  After talking to them, a friend who got off the train behind mine, noticed me.  He and his wife offered to drop me off at the tow company.

At the tow yard, the driver told me he pulled 12 cars out of the garage today.  He had so much activity, he stayed 3 1/2 hours longer than normal.  $200 later, I retrieved my car and headed home.  The receipt indicated I was towed at 9:00 AM.  I parked there no earlier than 8:40.

When I got home, I decided to try to find more about this program online.  The mbta website had no information on 6/1 (or 6/2 for that matter).

Add screenshot of mbta parking website from 6/2.

That night, I sent a tweet to the mbtagm asking what Premium Parking was.  He promptly responded that he would look into.  The next morning, I spent 30 minutes on hold with customer service (I was carpooling in that day, had plenty of time to kill.  When I got someone, she finally transferred me to a Laz Parking number.  That went straight to a voicemail.  I tried 4 more times with no such luck.

Around 10:15 I decided to send an email based on suggestions from the mbta website.  The GM’s email was not on there, but I was able to figure that out.  The GM responded at 10:45 and included the person who would be contacting me to explain the situation.

On June 1st, around 8:40, I pulled into the Braintree parking garage.  The main garage was full, so I tried the pay in advance section.  Spot 2 was the last open spot. After pulling in, this brand new sign was in front of me.

Having never heard of “Premium Parking”, I figured I would walk towards the station to see if I could figure out what it was.  I noticed spots 1-6 had this new sign displaying.  Spots 7-23 had the sign, but was covered.

Considering that almost a quarter of the signs were covered, I headed over to the Pay in Advance Box for more information.  There was no flyer on the pay box and the slot for spot 2 was still covered.  I decided to pay my $7.00 and go about my day.  These pay in advance spots have been existence since the garage opened in 1980.  If these spots were being repurposed after 30 years, I figured there would be a big announcement.

From http://www.mbta.com/riding_the_t/parking/:

“THE MBTA NOW OFFERS “PREMIUM PARKING” AT THE BRAINTREE GARAGE. PREMIUM PARKING IS A PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS INTERESTED CUSTOMERS BUY A MONTHLY 24/7 ACCESS PARKING PASS TO PARK IN RESERVED SPACES CLOSEST TO THE STATION ENTRANCE. THE MONTHLY PASS CAN BE PURCHASED FOR $200 PER MONTH FROM LAZ PARKING. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT SHEILA GARGAN AT SGARGAN@LAZPARKING.COM.”