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June 09, 2009
MAYOR SETS UP PARKING SOLUTIONS TASK FORCE
14-Member Group Will Develop Plans to Expand Parking Availability Citywide; Task Force Includes Aldermen, Business Owners, Residents, and City Officials; Group to Recommend Plans for Better Turnover for Business Districts Spaces
SOMERVILLE – Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone today announced the formation of a 14-member Parking Solutions Task Force (PSTF). The new group, which will convene on June 10th, draws its membership from the Board of Aldermen, local business owners, and city officials and also includes a local resident with a professional background in parking pricing theory. Curtatone directed the PSTF to review city plans and options designed to improve parking space turnover through better pricing policies, and to expand the number of spaces available to residents by adopting a citywide residential permit parking policy.
“The Traffic Commission remains the City’s official body for setting traffic and parking regulations and policies, but some changes – including the recently approved meter hours and rate structure, and the decision to move to citywide resident permitting – can certainly be refined and improved by a less formal process that includes a full range of interested parties,” said Curtatone. “City officials had already begun discussions on these topics with local business owners, and I wanted to give representatives of the Board of Aldermen a chance to weigh in as well.”
The PSTF will be an informal and temporary advisory body with 14 members appointed by the Mayor. The membership, which includes five city administrators, is as follows:
| Alderman at Large Dennis Sullivan |
Ward 6 Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz |
| Ward 7 Alderman Robert Trane |
Ron Bonney |
| Mark Chase |
Gregory Coughlin |
| Richard Fraiman |
Ian Judge |
| Ray Zonghetti |
Jessie Baker (Mayor's Office) |
| James Kotzuba (Traffic & Parking Dept.) |
Rob May (OSPCD) |
| Sean Murphy (SomerStat) |
Tom Champion (Communications) |
“When it comes to managing parking, the city has a pretty big toolkit to work with,” said Alderman Trane. “Traffic and Parking already has the ability to issue business permits, provide park cards, designate loading and other special use zones and to look at parking kiosk technology that lets users pay with credit cards and paper bills as well as quarters. I want to work with businesses and residents to make sure that we’re being creative and sensitive in implementing necessary changes to our parking regulations.”
“I don’t want to see any steps taken here that will adversely affect our local businesses, which is why the formation of this Task Force is so important right now,” said Alderman Gewirtz. “If our goal is to improve turnover and space availability for businesses and residents alike, then there are more ways to do that than simply through pricing policy. This Task Force will be a valuable forum and source of information about ways to make the most of the parking we have, both as an economic development tool and as a community resource for residents.”
“We understand that budgets are tight, and that the City has to take a more rigorous approach to pricing our public parking,” said Task Force Ron Bonney, President of Bonney Automotive and chairman of the Somerville Chamber of Commerce. “On the other hand, we want to make sure that any and all parking changes achieve the stated goal of enhancing parking availability for residents and business customers. Business owners across the city have already weighed in with a number of creative suggestions about how to improve the parking situation and we look forward to working with the mayor and other city officials to develop the best possible plan.”
On May 25th, the City’s Traffic Commission authorized the City to adopt a citywide meter rate increase to one dollar per hour, and a citywide extension of meter hours to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday. The commission also gave the City the go-ahead to extend curbside meters and metered lot hours to 10 p.m. in Davis and Magoun Squares, and to adopt citywide resident permit parking.
“In Davis and Magoun, we’d also like to look at extending the maximum number of hours that parkers can stay in the same space. One of the first things I hope we can look at is a 90-day pilot program for a 4-hour maximum in Davis Square and a 3-hour maximum in Magoun,” said City Traffic and Parking Director James Kotzuba. “As for resident permit parking, it’s worth noting that two-thirds of the city is already covered by resident permit parking regulations, including almost all of the areas bordering on commercial districts. It’s a program that we already have a lot of experience with, so –even though we will work closely with the Task Force to fine tune it, I still think we’ll be able to move ahead on that change by August 1st.”
“I have asked the Task force to complete its work by no later than June 30th so that we can complete all changes without delay,” said Curtatone. “If the appellate Traffic Board receives any petitions, they should be able to schedule their separate hearing and review process in the same general timeframe.”
“It’s clear we have the opportunity to do some creative things here, including the adjustments to the maximum amount of parking time, the creation of additional metered spaces that are free for drivers with resident permits. This is another area in which Somerville can be a leader in innovation and best practices,” said Curtatone. “I think this Task Force will be up to the challenge – and to the opportunity.”
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