Waukesha Approves Free 2-Hour Parking At Downtown Ramp

WAUKESHA, WI -- Expressing a desire to attract more short-term customers to the Downtown area, the City Council voted unanimously to approve two hours of free parking in the ramp during their Sep. 18 City Council meeting.

The ramp is located on a city block bordered by South Street, N. Grand Ave. N. Barstow Street and Wisconsin Ave. in the heart of Downtown Waukesha.

A study of 86 downtown businesses was conducted to gather data about the distance from the ramp and the average time a customer spends at each business found that three out of every four visitors to Downtown Waukesha stay for less than two hours at a business.

The ramp, which has a total of 492 spaces, receives an average of 421 daily visitors according to a study conducted by the city. Estimates provided by officials at the Sep. 18 meeting stated that the city would lose about $4,700 in parking revenue per year for those who park for one hour or less. If the first two hours were free, the study said the city would lose about $8,700 per year.

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