The Corporation of Hamilton plans to expand the existing voucher parking area to the city's Eastern boundary and north to Dundonald Street, Corporation of Hamilton secretary Roger Sherratt announced yesterday.

The decision to expand the voucher parking area was made as a result of the need to pay for construction of another parking level at the Bulls Head parking lot, Mr. Sherratt explained to Hamilton Rotarians on Tuesday.

"The revenue from Bulls Head is nowhere near sufficient to pay for the cost of construction," he added. Construction is estimated to cost around $4 million.

The voucher parking zone will be extended sometime this summer, he said.

Construction on the extra floor of parking at Bulls Head is expected to begin in May. Although the end result will be 260 extra parking spaces, parking will be in short supply while construction is underway.

"We strongly recommend that if you have choices, you consider either travelling by public transport, or that you look at other means of avoiding having to park in the city such as car pooling," said Mr. Sherratt.

If all goes according to plan, it will be around the time that construction on Bulls Head is finished that construction will begin on another of the city's existing car parks: Par-la-Ville.

Mr. Sherratt said the end of five years of planning a hotel/condominium development at Par-la-Ville was in sight, with developers given just six months more to submit their final proposals. "(The project) includes, in addition to the hotel and condominiums, the construction of an underground car park providing approximately the same number of parking spaces as the existing Par-la-Ville car park," he said.

"In order to ensure the success of this project the Corporation has agreed that in addition to the hotel/condominium components (100-150 rooms and up to 26 condominiums) and the underground car park, the developers have also been given permission for an office component of up to 74,000 square feet."

A pedestrian walkway from the lowest level of the underground car park past the front of the Bermuda Library onto Queen Street is also planned.

"Developers are hoping to start the project early next year, and it is anticipated the construction will take approximately two years," said Mr. Sherratt. He promised the construction would not have any impact on Par-la-Ville park.

"A downside of this project is that Par-la-Ville car park will be out of action for maybe two years," he pointed out. "But the number of spaces temporarily lost - some 270 - will be offset by the new floor at Bulls Head."

And, once Par-la-Ville and Bulls Head are completed, the Corporation plans to turn its attention to the waterfront.

Currently, said Mr. Sherratt, parking along the waterfront is mostly short-term for shoppers.

"(The Corporation) is aware of the plight of the retailers in Hamilton who now have to rely even more on shopping by local residents as our tourist industry struggles to improve," he said.

But with the completion of Par-la-Ville and Bulls Head, the Corporation will have the ability to focus on improvements to the waterfront, including plans to better the berthing facilities for newer, larger cruise ships.

And in the spirit of encouraging public transportation, improvements are planned for the Hamilton Bus Terminal.

"We are actively working on a plan to maximise the space and to give it a much needed up-grade, with attractive bus shelters, excellent lighting, and a safer and more friendly environment," said Mr. Sherratt.

"Parking will continue to be one of the biggest challenges for the City unless and until such a time as we start to reduce the number of motor vehicles on our roads," he said.

However with 44,000 vehicles already on the roads and the equivalent of all 44,000 entering Hamilton during the 12-hour period between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. every weekday, he said that is not likely.

"The Corporation is looking to the future, but you can assist if, wherever possible, you can avoid driving your car into Hamilton and take an alternative means of transport."