goers will enjoy their day on the
beach and Boardwalk and hang out
for the fireworks without having to
worry about beating the meter with
the new option to pay a $50 flat fee
at the Inlet parking lot.
fee for all-day parking in the Inlet
parking lot. The fee is good for one
entry and will allow visitors to come
as early as 5 a.m. and stay as late
as midnight, without being charged
an hourly parking rate.
flexible during their trip to Ocean
City on July 4," said John VanFos-
sen, deputy director of Public
Works. "We think this will not only
allow visitors the opportunity to
come to Ocean City early and stay
late, but it will also smooth the a-
mount of traffic exiting the down-
town area after the fireworks."
was made by the Mayor and City
Council back in April during a budg-
major backlash once the flat fee re-
minder was announced over social
media, the town wants to make
clear the decision was based on
convenience rather than revenue.
wasn't going to be the option for
everyone, but we were looking for a
way to ease traffic congestion on
Baltimore Avenue, and make it eas-
ier for people when they are leaving
the Inlet," Communications Manag-
er Jessica Waters said.
park in the Inlet parking lot to watch
the fireworks but end up paying the
most waiting in traffic to leave as
one car is allowed to exit at a time
through the ticket-and-pay process.
feel no such rush to get in their cars
and leave after the fireworks. In-
stead, they can enjoy the Boardwalk
a little while longer while waiting for
traffic to thin out.
ters said. "We are thinking it would
help from having everyone leave at