- A representative for the Austin Transportation Department has suggested increasing the amount of metered parking in Austin to include some public areas
- Jason Redfern with the Austin Transportation Department told the Parks and Recreation Board metering parking spaces by public parks and pools “encourages people to do what they need to do and return that space as quickly as possible.”
- Board Member Laura Cottam Sajbel stated she is opposed to metering as it would require payment for access to public amenities that are already free. She said, “I am completely opposed to that. I think it’s wrong ethically. It’s not equitable”.
- Cottam Sajbel also expressed her concern for the lack of public transportation which would be an alternative to parking a car. “You cannot take alternative transportation if it does not go where it needs to go”, she said.
- The Parks and Recreation Department however is planning to install meters in the Deep Eddy parking lot in spring 2020
- Redfern explained metering the pool parking would help keep cars from parking in spots too long, allowing for a rotation of spots
- He also explained the money made from metering would go into a capital asset fund
- That fund would allow the Transportation Department to provide funding for amenities such as resurfacing parking lots, creating ADA-accessible walkways and putting up new signs
- The board voted unanimously to postpone taking action on the item and has decided to discuss the situation further at their next meeting
More information:
https://www.austinmonitor.com/stories/2019/10/parks-board-member-complet…
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