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Letter to the Editor of the Capital (4/28/05)
by Richard E. Israel

The City’s Committee on Parking Prices is to be commended for their comprehensive and persuasive report. Under the able leadership of Chuck Weikel, this committee reached a consensus on increasing fees for the City’s parking meters, garages and lots. The proceeds are to benefit transportation, including the Navy stadium shuttle. Recently, the City Council approved the increases.

A comprehensive approach compares favorably with the City’s initial attempt to deal with the problem of too many vehicles for the available spaces. In 1946, the City’s solution was to install parking meters on the principal commercial streets.

The installation of the meters had actually been approved by the City Council on November 10, 1941. Mayor William McCready, a Main Street merchant, explained that parking spaces that could be used by customers were occupied by the vehicles of employees.

The delay in installation was not due to the supposed inertia of municipal government but to the conversion of industry to war-related production during World War II. As set in 1941, the fees were a penny for twelve minutes and a nickel for an hour.

The installation survived at least two legal challenges. However, acting on a protest from residents, the City Council exempted residential streets from having parking meters. This had consequences which became readily apparent when the meters became operational on February 26, 1946.

As reported in that afternoon’s edition of the Evening Capital, “Parked automobiles increased on streets where the meters were not installed. In the business section there was plenty of room to park.” Thus, a solution that benefited merchants adversely affected residents.

The lesson is that parking is an intractable problem which is unlikely to be solved but can be managed. Moreover, it is best managed in a comprehensive way which considers the interests of all affected parties. The Parking Price Committee has given us an excellent example of how to do this.

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