This column represents the thoughts and opinions of Jason Hennington. This is NOT the opinion of the Taylor Press.
Parking is a problem in downtown Taylor.
Although 300 additional spots were added with some of the downtown construction and striping, it still seems like there are not a lot of places to put vehicles. I’m sure this is a problem for people who are coming into town to shop and stroll through the central area.
This is also an issue for downtown business owners and managers.
Many times customers have to park a distance away from merchants’ businesses and outlets, usually because shoppers visiting a neighboring restaurant or mercantile site have already claimed those spots.
Business managers putting up their own private signs to declare public parking spaces are “reserved” is out of the question, and leads to animosity among the merchants and possibly citations from the city.
An alternative could be cones or something to mark off the spaces, but then again, that leads to trouble and is often banned by a government ordinance unless it’s an emergency or there is a work crew.
This is not a problem easily fixed by the business operators or their patrons. I understand there are regulations governing public rights of way, but there seem to be far fewer rules favoring businesses and shoppers.
Businesses lose money when there is a lack of parking, especially in front of their own building.
With all of the growth that is here and still coming, it might be time to consider some additional solutions to downtown parking troubles.
One suggestion is to add more handicap parking.
That alone would free up space for older or disabled people to park close to where they are visiting.
Another suggestion is to install parking meters.
The city would have to pay the initial cost, but the revenues from enforcing parking fines could pay for adding more spaces in other nearby locations, including perhaps the construction of a two-story or higher garage.
Either the Police Department or other city employees would have to issue tickets.
Another idea that could help with parking is a public-transportation system, maybe under the management of the city or a quasi-city agency. Even a private company could be contracted by Taylor.
It doesn’t have to be anything overwhelming like large city buses or even a trolly, but vans could be used. A van fleet stopping in different areas of the city, including downtown, would not only cut down on the use of parking spaces, it could also reduce some of the traffic.
There are already taxis, rideshare services and the Capital Area Rural Transportation SystemTaylor Station, or CARTS, but these are not enough.
Dedicated bicycle lanes have been an option in other cities’ downtown areas, so expanding on whatever Taylor has could help.
These are all ideas, maybe pipe dreams, but hopefully they can spark a new conversation to help improve downtown parking.
I’m going to get off my soapbox now. I know that Madden 24 has been released, and now NBA 2K24 is out, so please forgive husbands, sons, boyfriends and anyone else who sits in front of the TV all day or all night while we … they, enjoy some downtime.
“When I get real bored, I like to drive downtown and get a great parking spot, then sit in my car and count how many people ask if I’m leaving.”
– Steven Wright
