About Us

Our History:

Bethlehem Parking authority was established in 1988 under the city ordinance 2196, authorizing formation of the Parking Authority under the provisions of the Parking Authority Law by the City of Bethlehem to acquire, construct, equip, and operate parking facilities.

The City of Bethlehem, through ordinance No. 3218, has delegated to the Authority the responsibility to administer, supervise and enforce an efficient system of off-street and on-street parking. Currently, the Authority is responsible for approximately 3,900 off-street and on street parking spaces.

The Bethlehem Parking Authority uses on-street paid parking such as parking meters and timed zones to:

•promote parking turnover;

•act as a means of distributing a limited amount of on-street spaces (mainly in commercial areas) where demand exceeds supply;

•provide short-term parking spaces for shopping or personal errands (this in contrast to long-term parking for commuters);

•improve economic viability of downtown commercial areas by maximizing the number of patron visits by car.

The property and business of the Authority shall be managed and controlled by a board of the Authority composed of five members appointed by the Mayor of the City of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in accordance with Parking Authority Act, Act of June 5, 1947 P.L. 458, as amended.

The principal office of the Bethlehem Parking Authority shall be at 85 W North St Bethlehem, Northampton County, Pennsylvania. All meetings of the members of the Board shall be held once a month at a time established by the Board at this location.

The Authority is considered to be a component unit of the City and, accordingly, is reflected in the City's financial statements as an enterprise fund and included in business-type activities.

Enterprise funds are financed and operated in a manner similar to private businesses, where the intent of the governing body is that the costs of providing goods and service to the general public on a continuing basis by financed or recovered primarily through user charges.