DBDA says city parking study should be done by spring
The city’s enforcement of parking laws, the turnover rate at parking spaces, surveys of people using parking spaces and an inventory of all public and private parking spaces, lots and garages downtown will be included in the study, said Connie Burd, the DBDA’s Main Street manager. “(It will be) an analysis of what we have and what we need,” Burd said. “We’re looking at a relatively long-term study.”
She said the DBDA also wants to include a parking study done by Fay-Penn Economic Development Council in its study.
“It’s definitely needed,” said Mark Yauger, Uniontown Redevelopment Authority executive director and a member of the parking study committee. “They need to look at enforcement and improving parking opportunities for low-income employees in the city.”
The two-hour free parking spaces on Main Street and the city’s two parking garages will be among the primary subjects of the study, Burd said.
“We have two beautiful parking garages that are under-utilized,” Burd said. “We’d like to push utilization of the garages a little harder.”
She said the DBDA would ask the city for information about operating and enforcement expenses and revenue from the garages and other lots and spaces.
Debt service for the two garages is “pretty phenomenal,” Burd said.
The annual debt service on the South Street parking garage is $370,000 and its $132,000 for the Penn Street garage.
The DBDA believes more signage is needed to direct people to the garages, Burd said.
She said the DBDA, which discussed the study at a recent meeting, supports retaining parking on Main Street.
“There’s real economic value to have parking spaces on Main Street,” Burd said, noting that driving on Main Street is safer with one lane for traffic.
One of the results of the study will be the creation of a database listing all downtown parking sites, she said.
Jessica Williams, a student intern from Laurel Business Institute in Uniontown, will devote 150 volunteer hours during the next 12 weeks to the study, Burd said.
“We’re delighted to have her,” Burd said.
She said there is no timetable for the study, but it should be completed in the spring.