METERS, PERMITS: Officials Discuss Downtown

PROPOSAL WOULD TRANSITION AREA INTO PAID PARKING

— The free parking on the Fayetteville square and the cheap downtown metered spaces could be joining the Dickson Street Entertainment District’s paid parking plan.

Dickson Street merchants baulked at the idea of downtown restaurants and retail getting a cheaper — or free — plan compared to the Dickson Street bars and restaurants, said Fayetteville officials.

“We felt like there was enough feedback from that area (Dickson Street) and you need to hear that,” Don Marr, chief of staff, advised the City Council during the Tuesday session.

Parking officials presented a plan to transition the Dickson Street Entertainment District into paid parking and the residential area into free permit-parking. The council asked the downtown square and its surrounding area become part of the proposal for consideration.

The long-term meters — those with the red tops — behind the E.J. Ball building and other areas would see their rates increase 33 percent, according to the proposal. This translates to 50 cents for 2.5 hours, said Terry Gulley, transportation director.

“That could all be tweaked,” said Mayor Lioneld jordan, careful to advise the proposal is still a work in progress.

“But we are working through all of the details,” he added. “This is probably the best parking plan I’ve seen since I’ve been in city government.”

Other meters, such as those on Block Avenue which are 25 cents per hour and free after 6 p.m., would also become paid parking in the evenings if the city adopts the same proposal for downtown that’s being considered for the Dickson Street area.

Parking rates in the Dickson Street area are proposed at 50 cents per hour during the day and $1 per hour at night, with a maximum of $5 per day. No fee would be charged from 2 a.m. to 10 a.m. Sunday would be free until 1 p.m.

Persons going to the Walton Arts Center could participate in a parking lot reservation program and employees could be eligible for discount parking in select locations, according to the draft proposal.

Infrastructure for the new parking plan would involve the installation of pay stations much like the one in the Gregg Avenue lot next to the railroad tracks. About 20 of the devices would be installed around the district to accommodate all of paid street parking spaces, said Sharon Crosson, parking and telecommunications manager.

The city would enter into a lease-to-own agreement with a parking company, which would install the equipment. Current revenue estimates anticipate the city could recoup the roughly $500,000 amount within 12 to 24 months, she added.

Officials continue to stress revenue estimates are conservative estimates.

“I just want you to know that none of us are parking experts,” Marr told the council.

“There will be some adjustment until we see how it actually works,” he added.

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