BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Commuters to Moravian University's South Campus soon will have parking access to the Lehigh Street Lot under a five-year agreement approved by Bethlehem Parking Authority on Tuesday.
The authority plans for the move to eventually come with a one-to-one trade of 100 spots in both the Spring Street and Lehigh Street lots, letting Moravian commuters se the Lehigh Street Lot and parkers displaced from the Walnut Street Garage renovation to use the Spring Street Lot.
BPA solicitor James Broughal said further discussions with Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites, the entity that holds the lease over the Spring Street Lot, are “a work in progress.”
“We had worked the deal with Moravian College, that we’ll put [those parkers] in the Lehigh Street Lot,” Broughal said. “There’s 100 spaces, we’ll fix it up for them. And then they are going to assign to us their 100 spaces down in Spring Street.”
“We had worked the deal with Moravian College, that we’ll put [those parkers] in the Lehigh Street Lot. There’s 100 spaces, we’ll fix it up for them. And then they are going to assign to us their 100 spaces down in Spring Street.”
James Broughal, Bethlehem Parking Authority solicitor
“With Moravian moving out, there creates an opportunity for more people to be able to utilize that lot for the good of the city,” BPA Executive Director Steven Fernstrom said.
“I’d be remiss if I didn’t say how great of a relationship and how great Moravian University has been able to work with.”
Moravian Police Chief V. Harrison Dillard wrote in a campus update that, "It is important to note that our intent in working with the stakeholders involved was to find a solution that was in the best interest of all parties while the Walnut Street Garage was offline."
HBMS did not immediately respond to LehighValleyNews.com's requests for comment.
BPA officials said they’re working to provide shuttle transportation through the Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority for relocated Spring Street parkers.
Hotel Bethlehem also has approved access to a couple hundred spots at Spring Street.