(Updated at 12:50 p.m.) As the county hurdles past the halfway mark of a two-year review of its residential parking practices, Arlington planners want to hear from you about the issue.
County officials are convening a pair of public forums on its residential parking permit program review in November. One is set for Nov. 14 at Key Elementary School (2300 Key Blvd) from 7-8:30 p.m., the other for Nov. 29 at (735 18th Street S.) from 6-7:30 p.m. Another is scheduled for Dec. 8 at the Drew Community Center (3500 23rd Street S.) from 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
The goal of the events is for the county to collect feedback on “what works and does not work” with Arlington’s current methods for setting up residential parking zones and handing out the necessary permits, according to the county’s website.
The county created the program back in 1973 in a bid to keep commuters out of residential areas, particularly in neighborhoods business districts, employment centers and Metro stations. Residents were once able to petition the county to have their street zoned off, pending an analysis by county staff.
But the County Board voted last summer to put a moratorium on any changes to the county’s 24 parking zones, in order to commission this study of the program’s effectiveness. The review has been greeted with apprehension from some civic leaders, however, who worry the county is itching to cut back on residential parking restrictions.
So far, county planners say they’ve collected more than 1,600 online survey responses to take the community’s temperature on the program, and they envision the forums this month as a chance to gather feedback in person.
The county is hoping to wrap up the program review by sometime in “mid-2019.”
Photo via Arlington County