To ease the parking congestion along Main Avenue, the city of Durango is considering selling parking permits for Narrow Gauge Avenue.

The program is aimed mainly at employees who use meters all day in front of Main Avenue’s downtown businesses, said Amber Blake, sustainability and transportation director.

Many of these people don’t want to park in the Durango Transit Center lot because it isn’t convenient for them, she said.

However, if they park at a meter all day, five days a week, they could spend $100 a month on parking – not including any tickets.

“A lot of the employees that are feeding the meter all day are the ones getting tickets,” she said.

They also are using a space that might otherwise be used by 10 other people during the day.

The issue was raised by a working group the city formed to help tackle parking problems, she said.

The new parking permits would be $75 per month. A monthly parking permit for the Transit Center lot on Camino del Rio at Seventh Street is $30.

The new permits would be for parking along Narrow Gauge Avenue from Seventh Street to 12th Street, where meters are currently in place. It would exclude the 600 block because parking is in high demand in that block.

Once permits are sold, no one would be able to use the meters, said City Manager Ron LeBlanc.

If the pilot program goes well, the meters may be cut off at the base of their poles.

But if there is only moderate interest in the permit program, metered parking could remain an option and those with permits would be allowed to park at the meters at anytime.

The meters must be moved regardless because they are in the middle of the sidewalk and present an obstacle for people with disabilities, Blake said.

If the city receives positive feedback on the program, it could be piloted in May.

mshinn@durangoherald.com

Permit proposal

Here’s a summary of the cost structure of the new permit parking program proposed for Narrow Gauge Avenue in downtown Durango:

$75 per month.

$215 per quarter.

$420 semi-annual.

Permits may be shared by two vehicles. But the vehicles can’t use it can the same time.

Permits would allow vehicles to park from Seventh Street to 12th Street at anytime except 2 a.m. to 5 a.m.

To comment, send emails to Amber Blake at amber.blake@durangogov.org, call Wade Moore at 375-4952, or visit www.surveymonkey.com/r/BV7VBH3 to take the city’s survey online.