Proposed changes to Penn Street would more than triple available parking spaces

Apr. 29—City administrators are working with the Reading Parking Authority to increase the number of parking spaces in the 400 through 600 blocks of Penn Street.

The tentative plan, introduced by Jamar Kelly, deputy city managing director, recently at a community meeting, was drafted in response to concerns from downtown business owners, city residents and others doing business on Penn Street.

Implementing the plan would involve removing four of the eight bus stalls in the blocks, Kelly said, as well as reducing sidewalk width.

The idea is to provide additional spaces so shoppers and others doing business downtown can park while visiting shops, restaurants and other establishments, he said.

City officials frequently hear from constituents who say, "Hey, I want to run into a store on Penn Street, but there's never anywhere to park," Kelly said during the meeting hosted by Skylight Cuisine and Bar, 600 Penn St.

The informational event, organized by City Councilman O. Christopher Miller for residents and business owners in District 6, which includes the downtown, also was open to the general public.

Attendees also heard presentations and participated in question-and-answer sessions with Police Chief Eli Vazquez, City Core Manager Maritza Loaiza and others.

"Currently there are 50 parking spaces between those unit blocks," Kelly said. "We would like to increase them to 160."

Pushing for the maximum of 172 would require the elimination of midblock crosswalks, he said.

"For the mom with the stroller or the older person with a walker, we still want to make sure you can traverse the crosswalk and not have to walk the entire block in order to cross the street," Kelly said.

The greenery running through the island in the middle of the 400 and 500 blocks would be maintained to the greatest extent possible, he said, but would be reduced to create a walking path through the middle of the median.

The width of the sidewalks would be cut to approximately half their current configuration, Kelly said, and the eastbound and westbound traffic lanes would be narrowed to accommodate parking on both sides of the lanes.

"Currently two cars can sometimes get down," Kelly said, noting that would no longer be possible. "It'll be fully reduced to one lane of traffic."

That also means double parking would be strictly enforced as it would completely block traffic, he added.

"There will have to be increased parking enforcement because we cannot allow anyone to block bus traffic or emergency vehicle traffic," Kelly said. "So that part of it will be highly enforced: the no double parking, no blocking anyone in."

There are double bus stalls at four locations in the blocks. By removing one of the stalls at each site, he said, none of the locations would need to be abandoned and more parking could be accommodated.

Although Penn Street is not a state route, he said, the project requires the relocation of some traffic signals and that would involve moving underground utilities as well.

The city would also work with BARTA to ensure minimal disruption to bus service.

The project is expected to take at least two years from the design and permitting phase through completion.

"Just to be clear," Kelly said, "This is not a project that we can snap our fingers and get done overnight."

The proposed changes for Penn Street are part of a larger plan for multimodal transit, including pedestrian and bicycle traffic, in the city's core.

"We want to be more pedestrian friendly and increase walkability in our downtown," Kelly said.