The latest parking consultants’ report is in.
The conclusion: Westport has a parking problem.
BFJ Planning + THA Consulting delivered that verdict — and a 9-page document — to the Downtown Plan Implementation Committee on Thursday. The study cost $46,900.
After observing parking occupancies during summer, fall and winter 2024, the consultants observed:
- Peak occupancy downtown occurs on weekdays around 1 p.m.
- Occupancies are highest in the “Core Parking Zone.”
- Demand for all-day spaces in the core is at “practical capacity.”
- Public lots outside of the core are “generally under-utilized.”
The “core zone” is the area north of the Post Road between Myrtle Avenue and Parker Harding Plaza, and south of the Post Road between the Taylor lot (lower Library parking) and Imperial Avenue.
The core downtown parking zone.
The consultants offered these goals:
Spread long-term parking demand out of the core lots. This could be done by creating all-day permits and permit areas. There would be one permit for a spot in the core zone, and a less expensive alternative for an outlying lot.
Increase hourly parking opportunities in the core. To do this, 3-hour spaces would be converted to 2- and 8-hour spaces; some all-day spaces within the core parking zone would become 2-hour spaces, and “occasional 15-minute parking” would be introduced in the core zone.
(The selectwomen recently changed 2-hour parking limits to 3 hours, at the urging of downtown merchants and restaurant owners.)
A parking management app could manage hourly parking. The consultants noted that there are already 13,000 ParkMobile users in the 06880 ZIP code.
License plate readers would be used for parking enforcement.
The popular Park Mobile app.
Increase the efficiency and security of the Police lot. Used primarily by the Police Department now, this could be expanded, restriped and clarified as a public parking area.
The consultants did not recommend a parking deck — a recent discussion in town for, among other places, Elm Street — due to its cost: estimated at $4.9 to $5.25 million.
Though noting they are “not anti-deck,” Georges Jacquemart, principal of BFJ Planning, said that introducing the parking management strategies outlined above should be the first steps for town officials.
He added that funds collected from parking fees could be used to improve pedestrian access from outlying lots, and perhaps be used for other downtown parking projects.
Perhaps a deck?
(Since 2009, “06880” has covered parking — and everything else that goes on downtown. Plus everywhere else in Westport. If you enjoy this hyper-local blog, please click here to support us. Thanks!)
It is amazing what you get for $50k these days!!!
Well, there you have it. No crime magnet – I mean parking garage -needed. Take that, urbanists. And, of course, have a nice day.
Well this must be the first study that doesn’t recommend spending a ton of money for a solution.
Let’s engage the same consultants for the new $90m police+fire+EMS building absurdly proposed by Tooker, and also to take a second look at the Long Lots plan.
Just another study which will never be acted upon. Goes along with all of the other studies such as longshore, parker harding, traffic. Such acwate of time and money. Still have not sern a fimal plan for long lots or the garden
I have a far better suggestion, and that is to mandate all employees who are on the town of Westports payroll( paid by revenue generated from our resident taxes) to park in the peripheral lots. Also the library subsidized by the residents taxes.
How about the town lead by example especially since they do not seem to think walking from for example the senior centre to be a big deal. Heads of the administration included since they are the most outspoken about the suitability of these other parking lots.
This would free up parking spaces at town hall, parking spaces at the library and parking spaces at the police department.
Next suggestion.
Actually apply for an 8-24 which if successful would actually turn the imperial lot into an actual parking lot instead of the “lot” it is currently.
In order to make imperial lot a parking lot there is a process which needs to be followed.
If successful lay on regular shuttle buses, to bring people parking there to the downtown, and for example to town hall.
Enhance security at the peripheral lots. After all outlying parking lots are a serious target for criminals. Think mugging, rapes, and car thefts. Imagine the law suits.!
Next would be to find an alternative spot for the beloved farmers market since their presence from early morning until mid afternoon on Thursdays means there is extraordinarily limited opportunity to find parking at the not yet a parking lot, imperial lot.
This latest study was to evaluate 3 sites for a parking garage.
The consultant had one job to do.
Evaluate 3 locations.
Not offer opinion in his presentation at DPIC’s meeting last Thursday. He was not asked to offer alternative parking suggestions.
His role was clear and monies were secured through BOF and RTM for a specific set of instructions and, not to give the administration their wish list, which is what has predictably happened.
In the first comment by RTM member Jennifer Johnson in the westport journals article on this very issue, she states what their job was, and what the money was for.
I wish I could say I’m surprised that job was not done in any way shape or form.
Does that consultant pay the residents back for not doing the job asked of them ?
🤔
10 years after the Downtown Westport Master Plan and the same results and suggestions. We just keep restudying the same things over and over again
Makes sense…and no new monstrosities need be built. The new Police Fire Complex proposal cost is ridiculous – and it should be subsidized by the Federal Government…as it’s primarily to meet new federal regulations for the Fire Department.
Tooker is all for spending our money on it because it serves her best friend …..so it definitely will happen. When it does, the old one should be knocked down to create more parking.
no parking garage needed. Yay
The study to be conducted and the study that was paid for by us- the residents, and voted for by RTM and BOF was very specific.
It was not do we need a parking garage, it was which of the 3 sites made most sense to build one.
It appears they did not do what the RFP stated.
The parking problem has not magically disappeared. It is still very much alive and kicking.
The towns next job ( and should have been their first job) needs to be to go to every merchant and ask them how many staff drive to their job. After all businesses cannot operate without staff.
Then we can get an accurate count of staff cars to begin with.
After that, survey, over a weekend, customers at all businesses asking why they come to the town, how long they spend, how often they come to downtown, what they feel about paid parking, how far are they willing to walk and in what weather conditions. How safe do they feel peripheral parking lots are.
I chuckled reading Gianni’s excellent comment and would add to it the preposterous request by selectwomens office to the board of finance for $220,000 to design a shed down at Longshore. A 40,000 square foot replacement for the small green shed you pass on your way to the ice skating rink/swimming pool, at an estimated $ 7,000,000 – yes 7 million dollars !
And Peter Moriarty, well said ! However I have heard ( whether or not true) that there are local developers setting their sights on the police dept building and they have big plans to develop it when/if the time comes.
You and I can take 1 guess as to whether that development will add extra parking or sufficient parking and like the hamlet proposals in Saugatuck, or like the Bedford square development, I GARANTEE it will not.