Portland residents who park in peninsula-neighborhood streets would have to move their vehicles less often next year under changes proposed to the city’s parking restrictions.
After years of discussion driven by disgruntled downtown residents, the Department of Public Services is moving forward with a proposal to reduce the number of parking restrictions in most areas of the peninsula. If implemented, residents would have to move their cars twice monthly, rather than weekly, to accommodate street sweeping, snow removal and other services. On-street parking would still be banned for snow removal immediately after storms.
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Restrictions would differ depending on which two days of the month they are enforced. In areas where parking is restricted on the first and third Tuesdays of the month, for example, parking would be restricted on odd-numbered sides of affected streets. For those restricted on the second and fourth Tuesdays, the restrictions would apply to even-numbered sides of streets.
But the changes, which could begin next spring if City Council members approve, would require educating residents who are accustomed to the current schedule.
“It looks complicated but I think once people get used to it, it will flow smoothly,” said Councilor Cheryl Leeman, a member of the City Council’s Transportation, Sustainability and Energy Committee, which endorsed the changes Wednesday night.
Currently, the city prohibits residents living in most areas of the peninsula from parking on one side of the street at least one day per week for several hours or overnight. But the days and hours vary by parking district, and some residents have complained that the restricted hours do not fit well into their work schedules. Residents also have complained that the city has scaled back its regular street maintenance.
“People having to unnecessarily move far too often is the problem,” said Councilor Kevin Donoghue, whose district includes the East End and most of the downtown commercial waterfront.
The proposed changes to restrictions are:
• Service Area 1 (Western Promenade to Brackett Street, Pine Street to Commercial Street): Twice monthly on Tuesdays from 12:01 to 7 a.m.
• Service Area 2 (Bracket Street to Center Street, Congress Street to just above Commercial Street): Twice monthly on Tuesday from 12:01 to 7 a.m.
• Service Area 3 (Center Street to India Street, Congress Street to Commercial Street): No changes from the current weekly restrictions.
• Service Area 4 (India Street to Cutter Street, Congress Street to the waterfront): Twice monthly on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the daytime restrictions area, or 12:01 to 7 a.m. in designated overnight restriction areas.
• Service Area 5 (Cassidy Point Drive, St. John Street to Deering Avenue/Congress Street, Park Avenue to Pine Street): Twice monthly on Wednesdays from 12:01 to 7 a.m.
• Service Area 6 (Deering Avenue to Preble Street, Congress Street to State Street Extension): Twice monthly on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in designated daytime restriction areas, and twice monthly Wednesday from 12:01 to 7 a.m. in overnight restriction areas.
• Service area 7 (Preble Street to Mayo Street, Congress Street to Marginal Way): Twice monthly on Wednesdays from 12:01 to 7 a.m.
• Service Area 8 (Diamond Street/Smith Street to Eastern Promenade, Congress Street to Marginal Way): Twice monthly on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the daytime restrictions area, and 12:01 to 7 a.m. in designated overnight restriction areas.
Daytime parking restrictions in service areas 4 and 8 on the eastern side of the peninsula would change to 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from the current 8 a.m. to noon time frame.
No one from the public spoke either for or against the proposed changes during Wednesday’s committee meeting. Councilors praised city staff for crafting a proposal that aims to reduce disruptions to residents while still allowing street maintenance.
“We have been talking about this for a long time,” said Councilor David Marshall.
The plan is expected to be presented to the full City Council during its two October meetings, during which the council will accept public comment.
John Emerson with the Department of Public Services said the changes would require replacement of roughly 1,700 parking restriction signs around the peninsula.
He said crews would likely wait until next spring to begin replacing signs, with the goal of completing the work within a month.
Drivers would then likely be given an additional month-long grace period to adjust to the changes, Emerson said.
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