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No way out.

One of the Midtown Parking Lot's exits was closed Tuesday evening.

The other was causing problems at about 5 p.m., not the ideal time to find out people are stuck in a parking lot.

Kimberly Wilson of Sugar Grove was eager to get home by 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday. She waited 30 minutes to get out of the lot when her usual delay is "about 3.5 seconds," she said. "I really wish they'd just put in people. I don't think the automation thing is working out."

Darlene Frederoski of Youngsville said she probably wouldn't use the lot again after her first visit since the installation of the automated system was going so poorly.

"It's absolutely ridiculous," Chris Myers said after waiting in a largely stationary line for 18 minutes. "I live in Youngsville, I could have been home by now."

"Today I was in a rush," she said. "I'm not going to park here again if I have anywhere to go."

Another parking lot patron who was on her way to work and concerned about not making it on time said, "This is ridiculous. Open the gate and let people out. Don't collect your money."

Shortly before 6 p.m., she said the city wasn't getting money out of her. "I'm not paying for it."

The automated system was installed and operational in early October. The system eliminated the need for a person to occupy the booth at the Second Avenue exit and allows the operation of the lot 24 hours a day.

Warren Police Officer Brian Gulnac arrived at the scene shortly after 5:15 p.m. Tuesday and helped people with the exit procedures.

Information about what the problem at the Third Avenue exit was and why the Second Avenue exit was closed was not available.

Messages left at the Warren Police Department on Wednesday were not returned. A call to the city municipal offices regarding the problem was redirected to police.