The city will allow both permit and metered parking along Narrow Gauge Avenue beginning in May.
“We have what effectively is a hybrid system,” Mayor Dean Brookie said.
The monthly permit parking will be tested along the entire length of Narrow Gauge for a year, and it is aimed at employees who work on Main Avenue and park at meters all day, said Amber Blake, the director of sustainability and transportation.
“That parking at the Transit Center doesn’t necessarily work for them,” she told the Durango city councilors on Tuesday.
The city staff noticed it was a problem because they have been ticketing the same cars on Narrow Gauge repeatedly. They decided to launch the program after gathering feedback from about 60 people.
“It may not be feasible for everyone, but we want to do our best to provide options,” Blake said.
The city set the $75 monthly fee by using the revenue that was made at the meters in 2015. Customers also are paying for the convenience of the parking spaces.
A permit can be shared by two cars, but not at the same time, which is consistent with city’s other parking permits.
There is a 40 percent vacancy rate in the parking spaces along Narrow Gauge, so everyone should be able to find a space whether they have a permit or wish to park at a meter.
“I don’t anticipate seeing our vacancy rate go from 40 percent to zero,” Blake said.
She anticipates some people parking at meters will opt for a permit, and that won’t have an impact on overall occupancy.
In addition to the permit program, the city will move the meters to the back of the sidewalk along Narrow Gauge to make it accessible and to add a fence between the sidewalk and the railroad tracks.
Officials want to build the fence out of railroad tracks and metal tubing from inside train engines for safety reasons and to enhance the train corridor.
“We think it will pull together and really reinforce the train corridor,” Blake said.
mshinn@durangoherald.com
Permit program
The basics of the new permit parking program proposed for Narrow Gauge Avenue in downtown Durango:
Permits go on sale May 1.
Costs are $75 per month, $215 per quarter, $420 semi-annual, $810 annual.
One permit may be shared by two vehicles. But the vehicles can’t use it at the same time.
Permits would allow vehicles to park along the entire length of Narrow Gauge Avenue.
The meters will remain available to all.
