Generating Revenue or Changing Parking Habits Downtown?

What is it the City and a majority of the Aldermen are trying to accomplish with the establishment of a Parking District in Downtown Nashua?

Are we trying to generate revenue; or, are we trying to create a downtown which welcomes residents, as well as guests from other communities, to visit our restaurants, boutiques and other amenities downtown?

I welcome your input and comments.

It is so simple...there are only 3 Zones!

Ordinance 11-71 established a Parking District in Downtown Nashua...basically modifying the times, fees and fines for parking downtown.

In doing so, Downtown is now separated into three (3) zones -- Zone 1, Zone 2 and Zone 3.

• Zone 1:  Days of Enforcement: Mon-Sat; 8a - 8p; 90mins; $1.00/hr
• Zone 2:  Days of Enforcement: Mon-Fri; 8a - 8p; Time Limit: 2hrs, Rate: $.75/hr
• Zone 3:  Days of Enforcement: Mon-Fri; 8a - 6p; No time Limit, $.50/hr

Unfortunately, it is not as simple as some sponsoring Aldermen (McCarthy, Clemons, Cox, Sheehan, Vitale, Tabacsko, and Melizzi-Golja) would like you to believe.

You might believe that if you park in Zone 1 in the City it would all be the same ... you would be mistaken.  The legislation draws a distinction between "Street" parking and "Lot" parking; and, parking in a Zone 1 Street is different than parking in a Zone 1 Lot.  That won't confuse any one, right?

Here is the actual distinction, taking into account O-11-81 which was introduced to correct some errors in the original legislation (changing hours of enforcement).

• Zone 1:  Days of Enforcement: Mon-Sat(Street) & Mon-Fri(Lots); 8a - 7p; 90mins; $1.00/hr
• Zone 2:  Days of Enforcement: Mon-Fri; 8a - 7p; Time Limit: 2hrs, Rate: $.75/hr
• Zone 3:  Days of Enforcement: Mon-Fri; 8a - 6p; No time Limit, $.50/hr

The further I park from Main Street the cheaper it will be, right?

Well, in most instances this will be true, but not all.

One instance where you will be paying more, for less time, is at the Factory Street Lot (Zone 1) -- just west of the High Street Garage (Zone 2).

Why?  I would speculate this is a lot which has high utilization and therefore could generate additional revenue by decreasing time limits and increasing rates.

So, which other surface lots appear in Zone 1?  They are the Garden Street, High Street, and the Water Street Parking Lots.

Don't we want to encourage people to park in our Parking Garages and Lots?

I believe everyone would agree that we could better utilize our Parking Garages and many of our surface lots for long term parking.  This is where we would have consumers park who don't want to pay the increased fees on Main Street...so why do we have our Parking Garages designated with 2hr restrictions on the street level; and the upper levels not available because they are leased spaces?  And, not a single garage has unlimited parking.

And, how about only three lots in the entire downtown have unlimited parking. They are Maple Street, School Street and half of the Library Parking Lot.  Not the most ideal lots to propose to be used as unlimited or all day parking.  They are not strategically located to be utilized by patrons or guests of the City.

What about the employees who work downtown, where can they park?

Parking Garages and Lots are also the locations which will be available for the merchants and their employees if they don't have dedicated parking.

So, again, why would you place our Parking Garages (Elm and High Street)  in Zone 2 with 2hr Parking Limits?  After two hours our Parking Enforcement Specialist will then be able to ticket those employee's vehicles who have to work a shift longer than two hours.  And, I believe I am correct in saying that vehicle, if not moved, can and may receive multiple tickets in a single day.  That will truly encourage parking in our Downtown.

In Conclusion

So, while we hear from the Services Advisory Committee the Main Street Merchants need turnover and we should encourage these consumers to either pay the increased fee for a shorter period of time or park at a more remote location I don't believe the legislation will accomplish a change in people's downtown parking habits.

If we want to change their habits we need to make it simple, provide incentives and reward the behavior we are attempting to encourage...this legislation is filled with consequences which will discourage our downtown patrons, guests and visitors.

As I recognize the idiosyncrasies of this legislation, through review and conversations with constituents and enforcement specialists, I have and will continue to engage our Legal Counsel to propose amendments.  That will be the easy part...the more difficult part will be to persuade a majority of the Board of Aldermen these amendments are needed.

As the legislation is introduced I will update the Legislation Tab on the website AldermanCookson.com to keep you informed of the progress and actions which you might take part in.