   |
|
City of Athens Parking Demand Study - Athens, Georgia Athens-Clarke County retained TimHaahs to prepare a study of their downtown parking needs. Athens has seen a significant increase in downtown building occupancy and expansion. Sharing the same main street with the University of Georgia, downtown Athens wanted to study the impact that the university has on its downtown parking system, and how they can improve their current situation.  TimHaahs determined that peak hour parking needs exceed available, convenient parking supply for visitors to Athens. Many owners can not expand their businesses because of the lack of parking, impeding the future growth and vitality of the City. TimHaahs also determined inadequacies in the City’s parking management program with respect to meter rates, time-limits, low fines, etc.  Our study recommended the construction of a new 450 to 550 space parking structure. To fund the parking structure and provide balance to the parking program, TimHaahs recommended several changes to the parking management program. The City is moving forward with the design of the parking structure and the implementation of the parking management initiatives we recommended. |