Improvements to the long-term parking area at Owen Roberts International Airport will soon get under way – once the owners of the cars currently parked there return to collect their vehicles.
Plans by the airport operator, Cayman Islands Airports Authority, to improve parking at the airport have already started with the closure of the grassy area at the back of the long-term parking lot (known as Phase I) which is scheduled to be paved over.
The CIAA said that no paving works will be done while vehicles remain parked there, but to enable the work to start, all vehicles currently parked in the furthermost section of the long-term parking lot must be removed as soon as possible. A spokeswoman said, “We will make every effort to accommodate persons that have their vehicles parked in the Long-Term Parking area indicated as Phase I. Giving ample time for individuals to retrieve their vehicles is built into the project timeline.”
Around 15 cars are currently parked in the area. Travellers who parked there who are still off-island have been asked to contact the ground transportation team or member of security on their return to Grand Cayman, who will help drivers leave the fenced-off area.
During this period, overflow long-term parking will be available in the short-term parking lot and travellers are encouraged to use the curbside drop-off zone whenever possible to reduce congestion.
The CIAA said it wasn’t expecting much congestion as it is the low season and confirmed that people using the short-term parking lot for long-term parking will only be charged long-term parking rates.
Parking rates at the airport are $2 per hour (or any part thereof) for short-term parking and $7 per day (or any part thereof) for long-term parking.
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Ultimately, the dimensions of the LT lot will limit its growth without a two or three storey parking structure. I suggested that option to the CEO in 2007 when I was COO.
Important Note: The article neglected to mention that if you use the short-term parking because the long-term parking is full, you are required to get a parking attendant to sign your parking ticket, otherwise on your return, the clerk at the payment booth in the airport will charge you the full daily short-term rate. There is no sign anywhere indicating this requirement, so please remember to do this, if you cannot find a parking attendant outside, go in and speak with the clerk at the payment booth before you depart on your flight. When I queried why I was being charged full rate, I was told that everyone knows that, but obviously, not everyone does!