Renovated Fort Christian Parking Lot in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas. Photo Credit: V.I. DEPT. OF PUBLIC WORKS.
The V.I. Department of Public Works has reopened the Fort Christian parking lot in downtown Charlotte Amalie following months of infrastructure upgrades aimed at improving accessibility, safety, and functionality in one of the capital’s most heavily used public spaces.
The newly renovated facility features a wide range of enhancements. Among them are new pavement, ADA-compliant ramps, restored water lines for Carnival booths, improved numbering for parking spaces, and reflective signage for increased visibility and safety. A 24-hour automated payment system is now operational, and a pay-on-foot kiosk will be activated by the end of the month to allow patrons to pay before returning to their vehicles.
Both exits of the parking lot have reopened, and payment can now be made by cash, debit, or credit card at the main entrance. Monthly pass holders and credit card users may also use the additional exit located at the north end of the lot. For the first time, the lot now includes free charging stations for electric vehicles, a milestone Public Works officials say reflects the Bryan administration’s commitment to energy sustainability.
“While they may not make front page headlines, [these improvements] represent the type of progress that improves daily life and strengthens the foundation of our economy,” said Communications Director Richard Motta during the August 4 Government House briefing.
Commissioner Derek Gabriel and Deputy Commissioner Carol McGregor also expressed appreciation to the community for its patience throughout the construction period. The parking lot, closed since January, plays a vital role in connecting workers, residents, and visitors to Charlotte Amalie’s central business district.
Officials emphasized that the lot’s reopening is one part of a larger effort to revitalize the territory’s historic towns. The parking lot upgrade complements recent executive action by Governor Albert Bryan Jr. to expand enterprise zones in Frederiksted and Charlotte Amalie and to establish new commercial zones in Cruz Bay and Charlotte Amalie. These actions, Motta said, aim to “spark investment, improve infrastructure and create lasting economic opportunity in areas that have carried the weight of our history and culture for generations.”
According to Motta, the Fort Christian parking lot is central to that strategy. “It helps workers, shoppers, residents and visitors connect with the heart of our capital city,” he said. The reopening, he added, is one example of the “small practical changes” the Bryan administration believes can build momentum for long-term transformation across the Virgin Islands.
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