CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Motorists in downtown Charleston want easier access to parking garages, improved signage to those garages and more flexibility for on-street metered parking, according to survey results released Tuesday night by the city’s Parking System.
There were nine people who participated in a group activity that focused on four categories: Brand New, Change, Eliminate and Other.
Most people wanted to see smart meters introduced for different pay options. The biggest change people wanted to see was a new rate structure. Other changes included parking on both sides of Capitol Street on the 200 block, a change for meters to have three hour limits instead of two hours, an elimination of quarters-only, a removal of weekend loading zones and a look at bagged meters for businesses.
“They want easier access in and out of the city so they can access the parking facilities,” said Sherry Risk, executive project administrator for the City of Charleston. “They want improved direction and signage so they can actually find places to park.”
A survey conducted on Survey Monkey showed most people who travel to downtown Charleston are there for dining, entertainment or shopping. Of the 449 people surveyed, over half said they frequent the parking garages 2-3 times per month, particularly during the week-day afternoon hours.
Most people use the garages for 1-2 hours or 2-3 hours, the study showed.
Over half of those surveyed said they were “not very satisfied” overall with public parking in downtown Charleston.
“I think it tells me that the needs of the people who are here would like to see improved customer service and better service delivery that’s more modern so they have options and convenience,” Risk said.
These survey results are consistent with other initiatives in downtown Charleston, she said. The city has a bike master plan, Charleston Area Alliance has conducted pedestrian, retail, and housing studies, the Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau has a new campaign to attract visitors to the city and renovations are being done at the Civic Center and near the Town Center Mall.
“It’s all leading up to making this a destination for people to visit and then just make it a better quality of life for the people who live here,” Risk said.
Risk said the Parking System plans to review the public input and build it into the first draft of their parking study. Recommendations will be made to the city’s Finance Committee in the coming months.
The first draft of the study will be released in late November, Risk said.
The last time the City of Charleston published a full parking study was back in the 1980s.