Knoxville downtown parking suggestions include raising rates, shortening free hours

Knoxville leaders are considering their options when it comes to downtown parking, including raising prices and eliminating free hours to keep up with the city's growing population.

A new study from an independent consultant hired by the city shows there are plenty of parking spaces available, with understandable shortages in hot spots during peak times, but the system isn't making enough money to cover its costs.

The imbalance could lead to long-term problems when repairs or technology updates are needed, a report from Walker Consultants shows.

The extensive report suggests easy fixes and larger overhauls to look at the bigger picture and make the parking system sustainable.

None of the items are set in stone as the report is just the first step toward potential changes.

"City staff will be evaluating the consultants' recommendations. The recommendations are just one of many preliminary steps being taken as the city updates and improves its parking services," spokesperson Eric Vreeland said in a release.

Here's what the consultants recommended:

New on-street meter zones and prices

Downtown and the campus neighborhood Fort Sanders should be divided into high-demand and low-demand zones, consultants say.

Downtown high-demand zone

Parking at the high-demand meters should increase to $2 per hour. That area stretches from West Jackson Avenue to Main Street. Payments would be charged in 15-minute increments.

Downtown low-demand zone

Meter parking in the low-demand zone should be 50 cents per hour. That area includes West Depot Avenue, parts of West Summit Hill Drive, parts of South Central Street and parts of East Church Avenue.

Fort Sanders high-demand zone

Parking in the high-demand zone should cost $2 per hour. That area includes spots near hospitals, businesses and the university.

Fort Sanders low-demand zone

Parking in the low-demand zone should cost 50 cents per hour. That area includes parts of Highland and White avenues.

Increase meter hours

Drivers should have to pay for metered parking from 8 a.m.-10 p.m. seven days a week, the report says. Currently, parking is free after 6 p.m. and on Sundays. Visitor traffic can be high on Sundays, and the consultant recommend capitalizing on that.

Increase meter violation citation costs

Parking tickets should deter drivers from letting their meters expire, and the group recommends increasing the fines tied to those hated little slips left on windshields.

The group recommends unpaid meter fines cost $26 when they're paid within 10 days. After that, they'd cost $31. Consequences would be even steeper at $36 for blocking fire hydrants and fire lanes.

Currently, unpaid meter fines are $11 within 10 days and $20 after that. Fines for blocking fire hydrants and fire lanes are $26.

Increase parking garage prices

Only the Market Square Garage should see a price increase due to its high demand, the report says. Consults recommend increasing its rates to $1.50 per hour. That's less than high-demand street parking, but more than other garages.

The daily maximum would also increase from $7 to $10.50.

All other garages' prices would remain the same at $1 per hour up to a maximum of $7.

Eliminate some free garage parking hours

Customers would have to pay for parking from 8 a.m.-10 p.m. seven days a week under the recommendations. Currently, parking is free after 6 p.m. and on weekends.

Gates would be lowered so anyone exiting during the free period would still pay for the duration of their time during hours when payment was required.

Lots under I-40 and the James White Parkway

Right now, the massive surface parking lots under Interstate 40 and the James White Parkway are maintained by the city but it is not allowed to charge for parking there. The consultants suggest exploring whether the city can charge for special events, such as games at the new adjacent Smokies stadium, or charge a monthly rate. They suggest a rate of $10 for special events.

Transition to cashless operations

The city should offer mobile payment options and upgrade garages' payment equipment so cashiers are no longer needed. Garages should only accept credit cards or mobile payments.

It's expensive to collect coins from meters and get them into the bank, so this change would eliminate that need.

For drivers who don't have a credit or debit card, reloadable parking cards could be offered and sold at central city locations.

Add Uber loading zones

Drivers love the “stop and go” spots the city has set aside over the past few years. They’re great for quick pickups and drop-off because parking is limited to 15 minutes. More of the spots – and they have to be well-monitored, consultants say – should be added around Market Square because they’re perfect for Uber and Lyft rideshare users.

Changing up commercial loading zones

Early in the mornings, Gay Street and the side streets around Market Square are filled with trucks delivering fresh supplies. The consultants suggest monetizing loading zones like Nashville does, meaning businesses would pay a fee to have one near them. The upside is there would only be loading zones near sites that need them rather than wasting space where they aren’t necessary.

Consolidate management under one group

Currently, parking management responsibilities are split among several different entities for different downtown garages, lots and meters. The city and county should consolidate those and establish a central organizations with common missions and goals, capital budgeting, key performance data, transparency, management and stakeholder engagement.

It will allow the city and the county to together see the big picture on parking and make things more consistent for drivers.

Coordinate with private lot owners, too

There are an array of privately owned surface lots scattered around downtown and Fort Sanders, and getting them into a shared database will help drivers find them when they’re scouting out spaces. The city could even offer to manage them for a fee.

Improve signs for drivers and pedestrians

Different garages have different types of signs, and the goal is to make them easy to see for newcomers. Consistent signs would help. One website or app with all spaces listed to help drivers would be a plus, too.

Once you're parked in a garage, it can be hard to figure out where to go. Improving signs to direct pedestrians to landmarks and streets will make the experience more positive.

On the other hand, a new private survey shows customers oppose changes

Knowing the city was already assessing its parking systems, the Downtown Merchants Group put together its own independent survey. It included 15,000 responses and, unsurprisingly, 97% of respondents said they hope the city continues its free parking hours.

In fact, 54% said the city should expand free parking on weekends and nights.

“One of the best recruiting tools for evening businesses downtown is the free parking for employees. I’ve left previous jobs due to parking issues," one respondent said. "I have employees that have left other cities due to the cost of parking and believe(as a native Knoxvillian) it would be detrimental to downtown. Think 1990’s when it was rare that anyone came downtown past 6pm.”

Allie Feinberg reports on politics for Knox News. Email her: allie.feinberg@knoxnewsws.com and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @alliefeinberg.

Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knoxville downtown parking suggestions: Raise rates, shorten free hours