TSO Endorses Changes For Increase In Downtown Parking Permit Fees

The Town Services And Outreach Committee (TSO) held a public hearing on proposed revisions for the downtown parking permit program on March 10. No members of the public spoke at the hearing. The proposed revised downtown parking regulations can be found here. The response of the Finance Committee can be found here. 

In their discussion of the proposed changes, members of TSO supported keeping permits and parking permit enforcement for September through May, and not switching to year-round as proposed by the memo from the Town Manager, the Finance Director, and Treasurer/Collector  that went to the Town Council. TSO also supported keeping the proposed incremental steps for increasing parking permit fees each year through FY2025 even though the Finance Committee had recommended  that the fee increases be implemented more quickly, over a two-year period instead of the originally proposed three-year period. 

Proposed New Parking Fees
The town issues four types of parking permits. 

• Town Center Permits for town employees and those who live in the downtown business district, required between September 1 and May 31 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. only, and not on holidays or weekends)
• Resident Only Area 1 (see Map below). Required between  September 1 and May 31.
• Resident Only Area 2 (see Map below). Required between September 1 and May 31.
• Reserved permit for part of the  lower level of the Boltwood Garage, valid for one year from purchase.

Town parking permit fees are currently priced at $25 to $35 /year except for the reserved spaces in the garage, which are $1,000/year.

The new parking fees would include a substantial increase for permits for people who do not register their cars in Amherst. This was justified because Amherst does not receive excise tax revenue for cars that are registered elsewhere and it was hoped that the new fee structure would encourage permit holders to register their cars locally. The proposed new fees are as follows:

The committee voted unanimously (4-0 with Bahl Milne absent) to endorse the proposed changes with the following amendments and understandings

• The new regulations would allow residents on Beston and Paige Street to obtain parking permits for residential parking area #2, which is on McClellan Street west of Lincoln. Cosby Avenue residents are also eligible for parking permits for residential parking area #2.
  
• The committee concluded with an understanding that they accept/endorse the proposed three-year period for gradually implementing fee increases as presented in the revised regulations but they acknowledge that the Town Manager has the authority to shorten the three years to two if that seems to be a good idea after the first year. 

The proposed revised regulations and fees will be taken up by the full Town Council following upcoming deliberations by the Finance Committee.

During the public comment period at the regular TSO meeting following the public hearing, Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC) Chair Tracy Zafian reiterated TAC’s recommendation from February that permit parking be removed from the west side of North Pleasant Street west of Kendrick Park. In December 2021, the council voted to support removing parking there,  as part of safety and accessibility improvements in light of the new playground at Kendrick Park and an increase in visitors to the park.   Last autumn, TAC provided feedback to TSO and the full council on the town’s proposed improvements for that section of North Pleasant Street, and recommended eliminating  parking on the west side due to poor sightlines for vehicles exiting driveways there and other related safety issues.  

The DPW recently indicated that the reconstruction of the street there, as supported by the council, is not part of its work plan for 2022.  Zafian asked the town to consider making some of the planned improvements this year, however, to enhance traffic calming, safety and parking availability for families and others visiting the park and playground.  Speaking for herself and not on behalf of TAC, which will discuss this topic at TAC’s March 24 meeting, Zafian asked the town to consider proceeding this year with some of the improvements that don’t require much construction, such as making North Pleasant Street a one-way street going north from McClellan Street to Triangle Street , eliminating on-street parking on the west side of that section, and moving the on-street parking to the east side of the street, which is next to the park.