Downtown parking study takes first steps

Janet Imrick

Randolph Hub

ASHEBORO — When it comes to parking in downtown Asheboro, a consultant group says residents will need to prioritize what they want to see in the future. They laid out options for the public to view at a series of public information sessions and presentations on Nov. 19 and 20.

Jim Corbett, director of planning and operations services for Walker Consultants, said parking improvements are like a triangle, and every city has to choose one corner. They can usually touch two sides of the triangle, at the expense of whatever is on the third side. Those three sides are:

- Availability

- Convenience

- Affordability

Corbett said currently, Asheboro parking most closely offers convenience — relative proximity to the restaurants and retail — and affordability by being free, but it lacks availability. There are not enough parking spaces to accommodate all downtown visitors.

At its September meeting, the City Council voted to pay Walker Consultants for a review of the Central Business District. Meetings at the Randolph Senior Adults Association Resource and Education Center were set aside for business representatives, property owners, non-profits, residents and other interested parties before a public open house on Nov. 20.

Walker Consultants monitored day-to-day parking in lots and street-side by walking around the district and flying drones to take snapshots every hour. They found that the Farmers Market and the Bicentennial Park lots are the most likely to fill, while the Church Street parking lot to the south of the Farmers Market is rarely full. Corbett said it is possible that drivers do not recognize it is public parking due to poor signage or location.

Corbett said these sessions are part of the first phase of a four-part process:

- Phase 1: Analysis and Evaluation of Existing Conditions

- Phase 2: Evaluation of Future Parking Needs

- Phase 3: Identification of Recommendations and Priorities

- Phase 4: Final Report

In December, the city of Asheboro plans to open a survey for residents to provide further feedback. With that, Walker Consultants plans to present recommendations to the city in the first half of next year.

Corbett said they will have to account for the expected growth of downtown development, which could create new retail and draw new people.

He said there is a traditional progression they see in cities as parking becomes less available. First, the cities initiate regulations such as timed parking to try and keep spaces open. When the traffic overwhelms those regulations, they switch to paid parking to discourage vehicles. As congestion builds further, they may look to alternatives such as parking decks or shuttles that move back and forth from more distant lots.

The public was invited to review a list of enhancements, including additional parking spaces, 15-minute parking spots for customers who only need to grab something from a local shop, greenspaces, curb cuts for pedestrians and bike lanes. This tour is recommended for patrons ages 13 and up.