by Jolene Toves

Guam - Waiting to be seen at the Guam Memorial Hospital is a given. But waiting to find a parking? That's a different story.

When patrons come to GMH finding parking can be a nightmare. They have a choice to circle the lot for about fifteen minutes or to park in the surrounding area and walk as a packed parking lot is nothing new. So what is GMH doing to address this issue. Hospital administrator Joseph Verga said, "We have a task force that has been looking at the entire parking issue and at this time we just really need number one we need additional parking."

The hospital is exploring different options when it comes to providing adequate parking. Verga says they're focusing on long term and short term solutions. "First long term solution we are looking at doing a land swap with the Chamorro land trust and director Mafnas has been helping us a lot with that issue and maybe acquiring some land surrounding the hospital for us to provide additional parking," he said.

Verga says this will allow GMH to ultimately go the RFP route and build a parking structure, an approach he would prefer and sees as the best solution. As for the short term solution, "We are looking at reallocating the additional spots and putting in the mechanism to make sure there is employee parking and perhaps paid parking so that there are time limits on folks who come here to use the existing parking."

Verga says the paid parking option will be modeled after GIAA and is not meant to deter patrons from parking, but instead regulate. "To put some accountability on folks just coming and parking here and staying all day or taking up parking all day and at least if folks want to stay here all day its not like we looking to put more financial pressure on folks but it just a way to hold folks accountable," he said.

Proceeds from the paid parking will be used to make improvements to the surrounding areas to include building additional parking, level land, pave and put protective lighting ultimately moving towards the building of a parking structure. A feasibility study will be conducted on the options.