The City of Charlotte has recently initiated a project to improve the on-street parking experience in Uptown. The project aims to find a new and more consistent method for communicating current and future parking policies.

The on-street parking system has been evolving to keep pace with Uptown growth. That growth has brought some substantial changes over time including the addition of new parking spaces, removal of others, balancing parking with loading and valet services and new ways of metering and paying for parking. With all of this change, the existing system is in need of reevaluation to reduce confusion and add consistency throughout Uptown.

The CDOT implemented recommendations from the Curb Lane Management Study on Tryon Street.  So far, the new signage and designation of curb use has been a success.  Next steps are to implement the recommendations on all Center City Streets. Staff will:

• Evaluate streets as development occurs, and adjust uses as dictated by those changes.
• Evaluate and change curb use as the City converts some streets from one-way to two-way operation.
• Implement recommendations on all streets in the Center City as resources allow.
• Review by citizen/business request, and implement identified changes if doing so does not create confusion for motorists.
  

Prior to implementing the pilot project, a "pre-pilot" sign mock-up was tested for two days in December of 2011 on two blocks of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.  There were 187 respondents. Participants were encouraged to drive along the street where temporary signs were installed and to take an online survey about on-street parking signs.Two different types of signs were tested. This test was critical in determining which type of signs should be installed for the official pilot test.

Though the pilot includes three streets in Center City, the Tryon Street portion of the pilot project will bring the most changes, notably: 

• The rush hour restrictions will be removed. Motorists will be able to park 24 hours a day. Currently, motorists cannot park on-street from 7-9 a.m. or 4-6 p.m. 
• Public parking will never transition to other uses at night as they do today.
• Motorists will notice additional public parking spaces on-street. 
• Finally, motorists will see new signs that are intended to help clarify where a motorist can and cannot park on each block.

Residents, employees and visitors to the Center City will notice changes in the project areas beginning mid-May 2012. The pilot project will conclude in July and staff will evaluate the effectiveness of the new signs and curb lane uses along each block. Input from the public is encouraged throughout this timeframe. 

View additional information.

If you have any questions about the Curb Lane Management Study, please contact Doreen Szymanski at 704-336-7527 or at dszymanski@charlottenc.gov or Vivian Coleman at 704-336-4275 or at vcoleman@charlottenc.gov.