Public parking lot hours are changing at Washtenaw County buildings in downtown Ann Arbor
Drivers on the hunt for free parking near Kerrytown prompted a rule-change that starts Wednesday in the parking lots for Washtenaw County’s trial court and administrative buildings in downtown Ann Arbor.
The administrative parking lot will open to the public at 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and the courthouse parking lot will open to the public at 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Chris Asadian | AnnArbor.com
The change is necessary because of traffic problems when the lots shift to public parking at 5 p.m. weekdays, said Greg Dill, infrastructure management director for Washtenaw County.
Both parking lots are accessible from North Fourth Avenue.
During business hours on weekdays, both lots are strictly for permit holders and traffic is controlled by a gate. At 5 p.m., the arms to the gates go up and the lots become free public parking.
The draw of the free public parking in an area near many Ann Arbor destinations in Kerrytown has resulted in cars lined up outside the lots at times, waiting for the arm to go up, Dill said.
Several car accidents have been narrowly avoided in the driveways to both lots, Dill said.
Pedestrians are at risk, too, based on an announcement from the county: "(O)n several occasions there has been someone waiting at the exit gate before it opens. This prevents employees from leaving the lot and endangers pedestrians as they try to avoid being hit by cars speeding into the parking lot to secure a parking space."
Dill described the traffic flow out of the parking lot at the end of the work day, and the counter-flow of people seeking public parking after 5 p.m. an “Indy 500” situation.
By opening the lot to the public later to allow county staff to leave the lot at 5 p.m., installing signs and painting traffic arrows on the parking deck, county staff are hopeful it will fix some of the traffic problems.
“We’re hoping that will facilitate some corrections,” Dill said.
Amy Biolchini covers Washtenaw County, health and environmental issues for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at (734) 623-2552, amybiolchini@annarbor.com or on Twitter.
Comments
coffeedrinker
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 : 2:27 p.m.
Perhaps some of the traffic congestion in that area isn't just people waiting for free parking, but cars trying to get out of town. 5 pm is a bad time to try to get through anywhere near Main St..
Brad
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 : 12:34 p.m.
Pedestrians are at risk! BOO!! Anecdotal pedestrian close call report #35,552.
BernieP
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 : 12:33 p.m.
I am certain it depends on the efficiency of the vehicle, but where is the breakeven point of idling waiting for a gate to open vs parking at the structure that is two blocks away at $3? Since it does convenience shoppers at Kerrytown to park two blocks nearer to the shops, would it make sense to have the lot near the CoOp become a parking area designated for those who are disabled? Or perhaps a good part of it?
Tano
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 : 5:38 a.m.
Speaking from nearly five years experience with the Courthouse lot only - years in which I have been there at 5 as the gate goes up on average twice a week, I can say with absolute certainty that Mr. DIll's comments are completely at odds with reality. In those five years I have seen maybe once or twice there were as many as three cars waiting to get in at five. Many times there is one other car - most of the time there is no line of people waiting at all, although a fair number do come within the first half hour or so.. In five years I have never seen anything even remotely resembling an "indy 500 situation", nor anything coming close to an accident. Contrary to his assertion, if someone pulls up to the gate waiting for it to open (something I have seen very rarely), it does not prevent anyone from leaving, since there are separate entrance and exit lanes at the one entrance where the gate opens. And no one ever "speeds into the lot to secure a space" because never in my five years have there been any shortage of spaces at 5 oclock - and many spaces are opening up since people who work in there are leaving. There is never any need to rush in to get a spot. I don't know why this is being done, but the reasons that Mr. Dill gives are utterly phony.
Goofus
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 : 12:13 p.m.
I agree. I have been parking at these lots for many years and Dill's reasoning is exaggerating a very minor issue.
Linda Diane Feldt
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 : 3:20 a.m.
It is very disappointing that that county made this change without notifying the nearby businesses, or getting their input. And without much time to let choppers know. The People's Food Co-op shoppers use the lot at Fourth and Catherine extensively. Losing a whole hour of parking will matter. I've parked at that lot often and for many years, and have never seen one example of the behavior mentioned in this article. I've also served on the Co-op board for almost nine years, and never heard a single mention by a member of any problems in the lot. Having the use of the county lot is a generous gift to that area and the small businesses, it is appreciated. I hope the county will reconsider this action. It will hurt the small businesses in the area, obviously including the Co-op. Why was this change needed so suddenly, with only one days notice, and were any of the small businesses notified? I know the Co-op wasn't told it was even under consideration until today. This is just a bad decision, that affects many people, poorly executed.
ChrisW
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 : 12:50 p.m.
It is not "their" lot. It is our lot - public property. While legally they could close it, just remember who pays for it.
sellers
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 : 12:39 p.m.
It is their lot - and while it would be nice for them to share - it's not their duty or expectation to.
Susan Scott Morales, MSW
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 : 12:18 p.m.
Thanks for your comment, Linda Diane. As a community, what each one of our organizations does effects the other. Getting input from neighbors would definitely be preferred. The County missed an opportunity to act in partnership instead of unilaterally.
Machine
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 : 4:25 a.m.
It's pretty obvious from reading the article that people couldn't be trusted to behave reasonably so this change was necessary. If the Co-op and other businesses in the area could control their customers a little better, this probably wouldn't have been needed.
SalineTeacher
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 : 3:52 a.m.
Only on annarbor.com do you find complaints about FREE parking!
Eep
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 : 12:24 a.m.
SHHHHHH Amy . . . you're giving away our secret free parking spot.
lynel
Tue, Oct 16, 2012 : 11:45 p.m.
I'm just surprised the DDA hasn't jumped on this lot.