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INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 8471
February 25, 2003
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
SUBJECT: RESIDENTIAL PARKING
This is an overview on current residential parking issues concerning existing traffic control strategies and
some alternative strategies.
Some neighborhoods are impacted by certain facilities (schools, colleges and hospitals) and land uses
(parks) that result in non-residents parking on neighborhood streets. This results in the following:
• Vehicles blocking driveways
• Curb space not available for residents
• Street width too narrow for two-way traffic
• Limits emergency vehicle access
• Increases air and noise pollution in neighborhoods
Currently, the City is able to restrict parking by time of day and day of the week and through a resident
petitioning process. The residents' petitions require that two-thirds of the residents agree to specific
parking restrictions, Once the petition is received, the City installs No Parking signs and enforcement is
provided by the Police Department. This sometimes creates enforcement issues and issues between
residents concerning which side of the street the parking restrictions will be installed.
Possible alternatives could be to modify the existing control strategies by adding Tow-Away signs in
congested areas, increasing enforcement or irriplementing a Residential Permit Parking (RPP) program.
The RPP program could allow neighborhood residents or groups to submit a letter of interest. Staff could
work with the neighborhood to establish boundaries and request a petition with 50-75% of residents in
agreement. Parking surveys would be conducted and then restrictions installed if warranted. Decals
would be issued to residents / visitors for a fee and the Police Department could ticket vehicles without a
decal. With the RPP program residents could gain a "feeling" of neighborhood, and air and noise pollution
would likely decrease. At the same time, the "problem" might migrate to adjoining streets or
neighborhoods and conflicts could occur between motorists and residents.
These strategies would result in better compliance and preserve more parking areas for the residents.
But, all the strategies would result in increased costs to the City in the Transportation and Public Works
and Police Departments. The RPP program would likely require two additional employees (one for TPW
and one for Police) for administration and enforcement. The initial estimates to administer an RPP
program range from $90,000 to $150,000.
Staff will continue researching alternatives and present results to the Government and Neighborhood
Relations Committ in April. Please direct any questions to Robert Goode or Joe Ternus in
ro'�Gary W. Jackson
City Manager
ISSUED BYTHE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS