ATHOL – The Downtown Vitality Committee on Tuesday was presented with draft strategies for the Downtown Parking Management Plan project which incorporates feedback from a public survey that was completed in September.
Whitney Burdge, a transportation planner from Stantec which facilitated the survey, said they started the process in June by conducting data analysis of parking inventory and patterns during week days until 6 p.m.
The draft strategies for the study include a parking inventory, parking utilization, public outreach, multimodal conditions, a parking activity evaluation, and recommendations.
The study was done at all public, private, on-and-off street parking spaces and lots in the downtown core to see where parking demand changes during the day in relation to how many spaces are available, and to understand how different spaces are regulated.
The goals involve implementing a parking management strategy that will calm traffic, improving and modernizing parking facilities to support future economic opportunities and anticipated demand, to support bicycling and walking downtown with stronger connectivity to parking, and investigate policy options to support anticipated parking and development needs.
Burdge said that the total number of parking spaces is 1,584, with 85% off-street and 15% on-street and showed pictures of parking regulation signage seen around town.
The findings of week day utilization at 10 a.m. showed 32% usage of parking areas, 35% usage at noon, 30% at 4 p.m., and 22% at 6 p.m.
Multi modal conditions found during the study revealed that signage for pedestrians crossing didn’t entirely reduce speeding through Main Street, and in spite of crosswalks and traffic, people tended to cross wherever they needed to.
Pictures were taken for the study of empty or near-empty lots behind the Exchange Street fire station, behind St. Francis Church, Lord Pond Plaza, and in the upper and street levels of the municipal parking lot.
Key findings showed that off-street spaces are in demand slightly less than on-street, low meter pricing on Main Street doesn’t create high demand, central lots show low-use all day, parking near the YMCA is highest in the morning and evening, parking at the library shows highest demand in the late afternoon, and demand remains low along Main Street and Lord Pond Plaza throughout the day.
Committee member Steve Wills noted that the Athol Savings Bank parking lot near the Athol-Orange Baptist Church is always full on Sundays by churchgoers.
Burdge shared recommendations that were based on feedback:
■Adjust current meter pricing – raise prices only for popular spaces between .50 to $1/hour. Doing so would balance demand, encourage use of other nearby, walkable spaces, and reduces “all-day parking” in prime spots.
■Upgrade parking meters with more payment options.
■Increase enforcement and ticket costs which helps maintain availability in key locations.
Burdge said she was surprised that one in four who took the survey said they didn’t know the location of the public parking and suggested improving wayfinding signs that identify short and long-term parking areas.
Also recommended is a review and amendment of town parking ordinances, especially as development increases, and that if there is a need to adjust prices is determined, an option is to pursue a Parking Benefit District.
Identifying options for sharing parking spaces between multiple landowners was also suggested.
Other recommendations are to update municipal and plaza lots, provide better signage, improve bicycle markings, especially on Main Street, improve transit visibility, extend/widen crosswalks and install flashing crosswalk signs and install a pedestrian refuge island at crosswalks near Island Street and in the front of Town Hall, improve downtown lighting, and maintain and update parking study information.
Burdge told the committee that “everything we’re talking about here is meant to coordinate with all your other planning efforts.”
Athol Town Planner and Developer Eric Smith said since the survey and possibly because of news coverage, he’s been receiving emails from parking meter vendors.
Committee member Mary Holtorf asked how pedestrians can be redirected, specifically near the post office, Ocean State Job Lot and Cumberland Farms, adding that the post office doesn’t have enough parking.
Burdge said at the beginning of the meeting that the final report will have greater detail by the end of the year. She told the committee, “the point is to merge the overall demand. There’s capability to combine these efforts to be most efficient.”
In other business, the municipal parking garage painting project is on hold while a funding source is being determined for the purchase of an anti-graffiti application.
The next Downtown Vitality Committee meeting will be held on Dec. 17 at the Town Hall.
Reach Kathy Chaisson at 978-249-3535 ext. 656, or kchaisson@atholdailynews.com.