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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Half was better than all for the Wilkes-Barre Parking Authority in terms of how much it was willing to lose by offering free parking for downtown movie theatergoers over Christmas week.</p><p>The authority worked out a deal with R/C Theatres, the owner of Wilkes-Barre Movies 14, for the company to pay $750. That&#8217;s half of the projected $1,500 loss for free parking at downtown parking garages from Dec. 26-28, Tom Torbik, executive director of the authority, said Wednesday.</p><p>Movies 14 patrons can park for free up to three hours at the Park &amp; Lock Central and adjoining James F. Conahan Intermodal Transportation Facility. But patrons must present a validated ticket to the lone attendant on duty to let them out at the South Washington Street exit.</p><p>The patrons mix with other parkers exiting the garages causing a backup, especially during the Christmas week when Movies 14 is busy.</p><p>&#8220;They wanted us to have another person in there,&#8221; Torbik said. But the booth is built with one register, he added.</p><p>Torbik said he asked LAZ, the manager of the authority&#8217;s facilities, &#8220;If we put the gates up, how much money would we lose?&#8221; The answer was an estimated $500 each of the three days if all the gates were lifted for everyone after 3 p.m.</p><p>When R/C Theatres declined to pay the full amount, Torbik said authority members at a meeting Tuesday agreed to make another offer. &#8220;See if they&#8217;ll split it,&#8221; Torbik said was the alternative proposal.</p><p>The other side agreed, Torbik said, and now movie patrons won&#8217;t be tied up at the gates.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">A deal struck with the Wilkes-Barre Parking Authority will offer free parking for up to three hours at two downtown parkades from Dec. 26-28 to accommodate patrons of R/C Theatres Wilkes-Barre Movies 14. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/web1_movie.photo_.by_.aimee_.jpg</photo0><caption0>A deal struck with the Wilkes-Barre Parking Authority will offer free parking for up to three hours at two downtown parkades from Dec. 26-28 to accommodate patrons of R/C Theatres Wilkes-Barre Movies 14. </caption0><photoCredit0>Times Leader file photo </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Jerry Lynott</p><p>jlynott@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Post-Christmas parking gift awaits Wilkes-Barre moviegoers