Home >>Background >> Existing Conditions >> Parking
Parking
in Providence is a daily headache for many commuters, and is the subject
of most of the letters and complaints that Mayor Cicilline receives [7].
The parking problems vary across different sections of the city. Below
is a discussion of the major "hotspots" with regards to parking
in Providence.
Downtown
| Medical Center | College
Hill
Downtown:
In Downtown, the most common complaint is the lack of "adequate and affordable" parking. Parking meters and/or time restricted parking (1 hour or 2 hour max) line most of the downtown streets but finding an unoccupied space is difficult. Privately operated garages/lots are available at a fee. The cost of parking at these garages/lots can range from a minimum of $80 a month to $200 a month [7]. While these private garages/lots are often filled to capacity, the garages at the Providence Place Mall remain mostly empty during weekdays. Nevertheless, businesses say that the parking problems have made it difficult for them to attract customers and new employees. Further adding to their frustration is Mayor's Cicilline new regulations for raising the parking fees, adding more meters, and increasing parking enforcement. Many businesses, in particular the theaters and downtown merchants, oppose the regulations on the grounds that it will decrease their number of customers/patrons [14]. More information on the problem can be found on the Perceptions page.
Another parking issue hotspot is the hospitals center off the Eddy St. offramp on Interstate 95. The number of cars have created major parking and congestion problems for the hospitals. Parking demand (from employees and patients) is overwhelmingly high, as indicated by the sea of cars in the hospitals' parking lots. Worse yet, traffic congestion is hindering access to the hospital-- a problem that has serious consequences for emergency medical care. Roadside construction projects and road closures also add to the congestion problems. The hospitals have tried a number of measures to alleviate the problems. These include a shuttle system, the federal commuter benefits program, valet/stacked parking, and appeals to the Dept. of Transportation and RIPTA. Even so, the transportation problems remain. More information on the problem can be found on the Perceptions page.
As its name implies, College Hill is an important place for academia. The area in the east side of Providence is home to two major universities, Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design. But College Hill is also unique in that it is home to some of the country's oldest residential homes. As such, the area has been designated as a historical district. Given that there are two large universities situated within a dense historical neighborhood, it is not surprising that there are transportation challenges. Parking is the topic of controversy in College Hill. While students and faculty complain about the lack of "convenient" parking, neighborhood residents complain about the cars parked on the streets in front of their houses. The result is a tense and distrustful relationship between the universities and neighborhood. More information on this parking situation can be found on the Perceptions page.
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