Background Downtown Parking Services and Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance held a public meeting in January to discuss issues related to parking, including parking in the decks. Participants were asked to evaluate two solutions and also brainstorm their own ideas to increase daily usage in the parking decks. One solution may be to reinstall meters underneath the decks in the 10-hour areas, with a daily cost that is higher than the cost of monthly parking on top of the decks. Another solution might be to keep an area for free 10-hour parking, but move it to the top of the deck and move leased parking underneath the deck. Public support seemed to be largely in favor of the latter. |
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In follow up meetings, Downtown Parking Services met with the downtown parking advisory committee, a non-decision making group representing business owners from different geographic areas of downtown Harrisonburg, to discuss swapping the leased parking and the free 10-hour parking.
Recommendations
Downtown Parking Services (DPS) is recommending moving the free 10-hour parking to the upper level of the Elizabeth Street and Water Street Parking Decks and creating a leased parking area underneath the decks. Three-hour, 30-minute, and handicap spaces will remain in their current locations underneath the decks.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Would leased parking be reserved 24 hours a day?
No. Enforcement of the leased parking spots would be 7am to 7pm, Monday through Saturday. At all other times and on holidays, the public would be welcome to use the parking spots to visit their favorite downtown restaurants and stores or for overnight parking. There are no current plans for 24-7 parking, although Downtown Parking Services is willing to consider it in the future if there is high demand.
How much will the new leased parking cost?
DPS has not yet set a proposed rate, although costs for leased parking underneath the deck would increase over the current rate. Paid lease holders in 2007 may be grandfathered for a period of time at the current rate ($20/month prepaid; $25/monthly).
How many spaces would be available for free parking on top of the deck?
Actually, the overall number of free 10-hour spaces would increase from 147 to 194 in the Water Street Deck and from 122 to 174 in the Elizabeth Street Deck. Of course, this means that there will be fewer leased parking spaces available underneath the deck, even when demand will most likely increase.
Would I get an assigned space if I lease?
No. As with the current system, leases are sold by hang tag, not by space. Parking will be on a first come, first serve basis.
How will people know where free 10-hour parking is located?
Signage is key to making the new system work. Frazier Associates has designed an eye-catching, color coded system for underneath the deck. A Federal grant award will help with a portion of the costs for implementing a new sign system for Harrisonburg that will include parking signs, although more funds will be needed before the new signs could be installed. Below is a picture of what the Water Street Deck might look like. Signs on the lower levels would direct people needing longer term parking to the 10-hour free spaces on top.
What happens when it snows?
The City's Public Works Department makes every effort to remove snow from the upper levels of the parking decks as soon as possible. Every effort will be made to make snow removal on the decks a priority. However, leased parking underneath the deck will still be enforced, even when inclement weather requires the upper level of the deck to be closed.
What will be done to ensure that it's safe to park on top of the deck?
The downtown parking advisory committee is recommending several improvements to provide a safer and more pleasant environment, including better lighting and paint. Parking patrollers would also be monitoring the area on a more frequent basis and are trained to report any suspicious behavior or activity.
What about those people who will park in a 3-hour space and simply move to a new spot every few hours? Will this be allowed?
If you work downtown, you've probably seen this happen before: an employee decides that he or she wants the best possible parking space and will park in a prime short term space, then at the end of the time limit, come out and move the car to a new space. Some people will do this every day, even when 10-hour parking is only a few steps away! Downtown Parking Services is recommending that a daily limit be placed on short term parking to one space per block, per day.
We understand that a daily limit on short term parking may be inconvenient for those employees and business owners who need to run in and out throughout the day. We hope there are sufficient loading zones throughout downtown so that a person can quickly make a delivery or pick up, then drive to longer term parking. DPS is also open to suggestions on other ways to prevent "space hopping," which takes away from customer and client parking downtown.
Whom can I contact with my questions and comments?
What are your thoughts and suggestions? Please e-mail 
Jessica Chase, DPS Program Manager.
