Phoenix Could Hire Downtown Parking Consultant

Published: Monday, June 3, 2019 - 5:05am
Updated: Monday, June 3, 2019 - 8:29am
Christina Estes/KJZZ
Parking meter in downtown Phoenix.

Phoenix has no comprehensive plan to manage downtown parking demand, but that could change if a subcommittee goes along with staff.

On Tuesday, staff will ask the Planning and Economic Development Subcommittee to support a request for proposals for a parking consultant.

A report to the subcommittee said a patchwork of downtown facilities provides nearly 30,000 public and private spaces with another 2,500 metered spaces on streets plus an unknown amount of residential street parking.

Because there’s limited land and it’s expensive to build parking structures, staff suggests an analysis of new traffic patterns and technology changes to help create a 10-year plan.

The report gives no dollar amount but said multiple city departments and Downtown Phoenix Inc. have budgeted money to cover a study.

The report suggests the parking master plan include downtown and the Warehouse District, from McDowell Road south to Grant Street, and Seventh Avenue east to Seventh Street. The plan will also address ways to handle potential impacts on adjacent neighborhoods.

If the subcommittee approves, the full council must agree for the process to begin.

Business