Downtown Parking Meter Restrictions Being Lifted
Over 160 Downtown parking meters will soon be losing their rush hour parking restrictions, which means that parking in front of businesses in the 7-9am and 4-6pm time slots just got a whole lot easier. In a statement released this afternoon, city leaders are are stating that the removal of these parking restrictions will make Downtown a friendlier place for businesses, pedestrians, and visitors. “Downtown continues to develop with new restaurants, condos and apartments, parks and businesses, and as the market changes we must fill the need for parking for cars, motorcycles and bikes,” said Mayor Michael B. Coleman. “Lifting these parking restrictions makes sense because Downtown is an active, exciting place to work and live day and night, and we will continue to look for ways to make our Downtown more accessible.”
The original purpose of having on-street parking restrictions during these hours was to facilitate the steady flow of rush hour traffic in and out of Downtown. Over the years though, many have recognized the negative side effect this has on street-level businesses who rely on those easy parking spots to provide access to their transient customers. “On-street parking during rush hour will support ground-level retail development and pedestrian safety and calm traffic,” said CCSID Executive Director Cleve Ricksecker. “This decision is a great step forward.”
The locations of these new parking regulations include:
- South 4th Street, east side of street between East Rich and Engler Streets (except between Noble and East Main Streets): Remove 4 p.m.-6 p.m. weekdays parking prohibitions (29 meters)
- Front Street, west side of street between West Broad and West Long Streets: Remove 7 am.-9 a.m. and 4 p.m.-6 p.m. weekdays parking prohibitions (28 meters)
- South 3rd Street, east side of street between East Rich and East Mound Streets: Remove 7 a.m.-9 a.m. weekdays parking prohibitions (18 meters)
- South 3rd Street, west side of street between East State and East Main Streets: Remove 7 a.m.-9 a.m. weekdays parking prohibitions (17 meters)
- East Broad Street, north side of street between High Street and North 4th Street: Remove 7 a.m.-9 a.m. and 4 p.m.-6 p.m. weekdays parking prohibitions (16 meters)
- South 3rd Street, east side of street between East Broad and East Town Streets: Remove 7 a.m.-9 a.m. weekdays parking prohibitions (14 meters)
- South 4th Street, east side of street between East State and Rich Streets: Remove 4 p.m.-6 p.m. weekdays parking prohibitions (10 meters)
- East Spring Street, south side of street between North High and Wall Streets: Remove 7 a.m.-9 a.m. and 4 p.m.-6 p.m. weekdays parking prohibitions (7 meters)
- East Main Street, north side of street between South 3rd and Lazelle Streets: Remove 7 a.m.-9 a.m. weekdays parking prohibitions (6 meters)
- East Town Street, south side of street between South 3rd and South 4th Streets: Remove 7 a.m.-9 a.m. and 4 p.m.-6 p.m. weekdays parking prohibitions (3 meters)
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Related Tags: cars • city of columbus • downtown • parking • parking meters • traffic
September 21st, 2009 at 6:38 pm
special thanks to cleve ricksecker, lelia cady & mike brown.
the signs aren’t yet changed so please be careful. we are so excited that the city of columbus supports happy hours downtown!
September 21st, 2009 at 7:10 pm
I know that this was a looooong time coming, and there’s some really good people at City Hall behind the scenes who helped to make this happen. Just wanted to give them some quick props for sticking with it. These types of changes may seem fairly insignificant on the surface to some people, but I fully believe that these types of small changes can have a very big impact on Downtown.
September 21st, 2009 at 7:47 pm
Glad to see this commonsense solution actually happened
This is a clearcut win for just about everybody.
The city will get more revenue from parking meters, commuters will not be inconvenienced or endangered given the timing and locations of the bans being lifted, and of course ground floor retaler and restaurants will benefit from having easier to explain more reliable parking for their customers (which hopefully lead to building owners getting greater occupancy rates).
Nothing is less welcoming downtown for visitors than getting towed to Whittier while you are shopping/eating. Hopefully this change will lessen that occurrence.
September 21st, 2009 at 7:55 pm
I’m very happy to hear this news today!
September 21st, 2009 at 7:57 pm
Oh and thank you!
September 21st, 2009 at 7:58 pm
The 4-6 restriction is (was) confusing and very unfriendly to those who aren’t from the city. I don’t know how long this rule was in effect, but I’m glad to see common sense chalk up a win.
September 21st, 2009 at 8:11 pm
Now they just need to turn the meters off on Saturday…
September 21st, 2009 at 9:59 pm
great great idea! but this does confirm my feelings that 3rd and 4th should continue to be one way streets.
September 21st, 2009 at 10:42 pm
It’s about time Downtown was geared towards visitors instead of bending over backwards to ensure all those single occupant vehicles get special lanes during rush hour.
September 21st, 2009 at 10:52 pm
im a happy hour whore….. one more PBR please!
September 22nd, 2009 at 8:25 am
Just happy hour, Sherm?
September 22nd, 2009 at 8:54 am
sweet rush hour at dirty franks just got better!
September 22nd, 2009 at 10:15 am
You said it, Columbusite. Use the streets to KEEP people downtown, not steamroll them out of it. That’s the real way to improve things there!
September 22nd, 2009 at 10:18 am
Congrats to all that worked on this as well as those that will benefit and those that were going to get towed, tomorrow, the day after, etc.
Now bring back the credit card meters - PLEASE
September 22nd, 2009 at 11:31 am
lisathewaitress Says:
September 21st, 2009 at 9:59 pm
great great idea! but this does confirm my feelings that 3rd and 4th should continue to be one way streets.
I think the two-way conversion was just above Warren St. through Italian Village and Weinland Park. There was never any talk of the two-way conversion downtown as far as I know.
September 22nd, 2009 at 11:38 am
^It was discussed here:
http://www.columbusunderground.com/wasted-space-in-downtown-the-old-highway-feeders
September 22nd, 2009 at 11:49 am
Now if we can just convert all downtown meters to the kind they have on Gay St. that take credit cards!
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:42 pm
I guess those meters are still in their testing phase. Actually, I just checked and that was over this spring, so I guess they were a success. You can request more here.
September 22nd, 2009 at 12:50 pm
thanks for pointing that out.
September 23rd, 2009 at 2:52 pm
I’m very happy with the restrictions being lifted - and not just for my office. This morning I saw the guy with the ratchet taking down the sign.
The move surprised me because it does seem either forward-thinking or long-overdue depending on how you look at it. Either way, it’s pro downtown and I like that.
September 23rd, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Good change.
Folks who liked meters should definitely advocate for them! The test on Gay Street was successful on most fronts, but it was sponsored/paid by the vendor company so the heads are getting pulled most likely until decisions are made and funding allocated. City needs to hear feedback to make sure that implementation occurs and funds are budgeted to start the transition to the cc-taking meter head upgrade. Send notes and email to 311, City Council members and Public Service Department.