Covina hopes to better downtown parking with new study's help

By Daniel Tedford, Staff Writer
The San Gabriel Valley Tribune
Posted: 01/21/2010 06:01:11 PM PST

COVINA - As the city looks to revitalize its downtown, officials expecting increased traffic have ordered a study of the downtown parking situation.

Misunderstandings about the availability of parking, both in front and behind stores, and a unbalanced amount of short-term and long-term parking are the major issues, Downtown Business Association President Steve Carey said.

There aren't enough short-term parking spots, and motorists often spend too long parked in the few already there, Carey said.

"There has to be a balance of time-limited parking and long-term parking," Carey said.

With Covina looking to liven up the area, city officials felt it was the best time to get a definitive answer on the parking issue, City Manager Daryl Parrish said.

An expanded Rude Dog Bar and Grill and the new 3 Vino's restaurant has increased traffic and parking problems along Citrus Avenue on weekend evenings, Parrish said.

The report will likely help address the weekend log jam, Parrish said.

"I think a lot of it is perception that there is not enough parking in town," Parrish said. "But I really think it is more of concerns being brought forward at particular locations. They are not saying there isn't enough parking, just not enough parking in front of their enterprise."

The study is being conducted by Advantec Consulting Engineers out of Diamond Bar and is estimated to cost the city about $50,000 worth of state transportation bond funding.

Advantec declined comment, deferring questions to city officials.

While building more parking in downtown is an option, Parrish hopes the study will find ways to better use what is already there.

He doesn't want the city to end up having to buy more property, he said.

"Hopefully that won't be the case," he said. "Best-case scenario is to make use of what we have currently. But we are waiting to see what the study shows."

Officials with Advantec have been observing downtown, and their report is expected to be done within 60 days, Parrish said.

That data will be used to create recommendations for timed parking and street parking. It will also give insight about how parking affects the economics of the area, officials said.

"I think the primary thing we want to do is make it easier for customers to shop in the downtown area," Mayor Walter Allen said. "We want to have a unified approach to do that."

Once the report is completed, it will be taken to the City Council for an initial glance. Then, as Parrish said, it will be "taken to the streets" for feedback from businesses.

"With parking districts, you can never make everybody happy," Allen said. "You hear all sorts of different perspectives. We want to look at this from an analytical standpoint."

daniel.tedford@sgvn.com

626-962-8811, ext. 2730