Downtown Parking System Modifications 2019 to 2020

Proposed but mostly not adopted

Parking Advisory & Recommendations Committee

Visit the Parking Advisory and Recommendations Committee (PARC) webpage to access the PARC Downtown Parking Survey

View a quick recap presented to the Parking Advisory and Recommendations Committee on August 3, 2021 (PDF).

To watch the meeting: August 21, 2021, PARC Meeting

For more in-depth information about prior efforts, read over the following information.

Town of Reading Parking Maps / Reports / Studies

• Downtown Parking Map 2020 (PDF)
• Nelson Nygaard 2009 Parking Recommendations (PDF)
• Nelson Nygaard 2018-19 Parking Report and Recommendations (PDF)
  • Q and A Information (PDF)
  • Parking Kiosk Recommendations (PDF)
  • Additional Information on Enforcement and Revenue Potential (PDF)
  • Compiled Downtown Parking Feedback from Arlington and Woburn (PDF)

Modifications Proposed by the Parking Traffic Transportation Task Force

Modifications Proposed by the Parking Traffic Transportation Task Force (PTTTF) equals an interdepartmental group of staff.

October 2019 to September 2020

Aspects of the system that were considered include:

• Leased spaces
• Employee Permit Program
• On-Street Regulations (i.e., Public, Resident-Only etc.)
• Off-Street Regulations (i.e., Brande Court and Upper Haven lots)
• Paid Parking, potentially as part of a Parking Benefit District
• Safety Enhancements

Was There Outreach

The outreach for this was extensive and varied, and included: multiple email blasts to a large list of downtown stakeholders; notification in the water bill; two separate CodeRed (reverse 911) alerts to over 3,400 people; 5 presentations at Select Board (SB) meetings; and 10+ Zoom information/feedback sessions in August and September 2020. Staff also met with downtown businesses multiple times and were available for one-on-one conversations with anyone who could not attend the Zoom sessions.

How Can I Get More Information

The Select Board discussed potential modifications to the Downtown Parking System at their meetings of October 29, 2019, January 21, 2020, February 4, 2020, August 11, 2020, and September 22, 2020. The presentations and additional documentation provided are linked below. In addition, the discussions are available via RCTV youtube video (review following links):

• October 29, 2019, Select Board: at 2:15
  October 29, 2019 Presentation (PDF)
• January 21, 2020, Select Board: at 2:23
  January 21, 2020 Presentation (PDF) (includes an overview of results of 2019 Downtown Parking Survey)
  • Supporting Documentation Provided
    • Stated Philosophy and Scenario (PDF)
• February 4, 2020, Select Board: at 1:30
  February 4, 2020 Presentation (PDF) (includes overview of results of 2019 Downtown Parking Survey)
  • Supporting Documentation Provided
    • Parking Space Inventory (PDF)
    • Parking Kiosk Recommendations, Memo from Nelson Nygaard, dated January 29, 2020 (PDF)
• March 17, 2020, Select Board:
  Presentation and Documentation Prepared; Postponed due to COVID-19.
  March 17, 2020 Presentation (PDF) (includes concerns and staff responses to: outreach, kiosks, employees, customers, residents and commuters, safety and accessibility, etc.)
  • Supporting Documentation Provided
    • Stated Philosophy and Scenario (PDF)
    • Lighting Needs Assessment (PDF)
    • Parking Sign Locations (PDF)
    • Implementation Timeline (PDF) and Other Components (PDF)
    • Parking Benefit Districts information prepared by MAPC, dated December 20, 2018 (PDF)
    • Parking Revenue Breakdown prepared by Nelson Nygaard (PDF)
    • Additional Information on Enforcement and Revenue Potential, prepared by Nelson Nygaard (PDF)
    • Follow Up Q and A from 2/4/20 SB Meeting with Nelson Nygaard (PDF)
    • Feedback from Arlington and Waltham Staff on their respective paid parking systems (PDF)
• August 11, 2020, Select Board: at 1:39
  August 11, 2020 Presentation (PDF)
  • Supporting Documentation Provided
    • Updated Implementation Timeline (PDF) and Other Components (PDF)
    • Plus All the documentation provided for March 17, 2020.
• September 22, 2020, Select Board: at minute 24
  September 22, 2020 Presentation (PDF) (changes to Resident-Only areas removed from proposal)
  Presentation outlines changes to 4 major components of system: (1) Leased Spaces, (2) Employee Permit Program, (3) Public Access, and (4) Kiosks in Public Lots
  • Supporting Documentation Provided
    • Harnden Yard Proposal (PDF) (Approved as part of changes to Leased Spaces)
      Plus Proposed Amendments to Traffic and Parking Regulations (Select Board required to vote on regulatory changes to every street segment)