Entry 114 of 1039
By Think! Christiansburg On May 16, 2008 at 2:59 PM
Yesterday, a Roanoke Times Round Table blog asked a question about downtown parking in Christiansburg.   

One RT responder stated that “when the town did have meters, the citizens and merchants did nothing but complain” and proclaimed “the town raised concerns about parking congestion around the Courthouse ... citizens and merchants persisted with the argument … the town gave in to the constant complaints.”

The Town (administration and/or personnel) is being portrayed as a victim in this response, harassed by pesky citizens and downtown businesses.  “Some people will complain about local government no matter what it does.”  Oh, pluheez.  Can we have a little common sense here?  

Did Christiansburg Town Council discuss parking congestion around the Courthouse?  Yes.  Did Town Council recognize this was primarily due to Courthouse business?  Yes.  Could council revisit the issue again, if needed?  Yes.  Is it necessary to revisit the issue now?  Seems likely.    

Is parking limited in the Town Square area?  Yes.  Is on-street parking being abused by those who frequent the Courthouse or the town’s Police Department?  Yes.  Is there off-street parking available to accommodate these employees and/or regulars?  Yes.  

Just as local merchants have a tacit understanding that on-street parking benefits  downtown commerce (and so employees are directed to use other parking), this same expectation could be communicated by both the town and county to its staff or “regulars.”   Shame the abusers for being lazy or discourteous to town residents, downtown business operators and their patrons.    

Can we also delineate between “aggressive enforcement” and erratic enforcement and malfunctioning meters?  Yes.     

Even the statement “the whole gamut of things people say when they get caught breaking traffic laws” is a skewed view, implying everyone is suspect as deliberately deciding to break rules and then to place all blame on the enforcers.  What type of mentality is this?

If memory serves, there was discussion on removing the meters because (a) it represented less than $5000 in annual revenue, (b) it required enforcement (which was very sporadic) and so represented a modest yet real expense, (c) meters could be  perceived as a negative, as contrasted to free parking at large shopping centers, (d) the meters were problematic in both function and what hours they were to be fed, (e) surplus sale of the meters provided some residual value returned to the town, (f) removal could be aligned with the November 2006 street improvement contract, and (gee) the matter could be revisited in the future.  

In the original blog, there wasn’t any ire apparent to this reader.  Just an observation, or opinion -- and a statement of personal action already taken by the writer.  That alone seems to have been enough to be irksome to someone.  

Here’s another observation.  While the meters were removed -- with the poles they were on being removed along only one block of West Main which has been undergoing construction for the past 18 months, and not confusing this work with the water and sewer projects begun in October 2003 that initially tore up the streets and sidewalks -- all the other meter poles remain.  Perhaps due to the cost of actually removing all evidence of the former meters, perhaps in anticipation of providing future short term parking signage, perhaps in anticipation of removing them during yet another "sometime in the future" construction project, perhaps because no one’s gotten around to it yet, perhaps as testimony to how the Town gave in (after being harassed by pesky citizens and downtown businesses).  How's this for irksome?

Let’s back up and use some common sense, and address the issue.  Town council should revisit the option of having short-term parking and enforcement in the town square parking areas – because this parking is being abused.  Government offices should be expected to communicate that visitors (whether regular or otherwise) who will be doing business in the area more than two hours are to utilize available, adjacent county, town or other public parking lots.  Along with this dialog, the conversation should address how parking needs will be met during construction of the new Courthouse and parking deck, which is expected to occur Fall 2008 to Spring 2011 along East Main, Pepper and First streets.   Downtown businesses and government offices will continue to have their employees utilize off-street parking, and respect the parking areas of adjacent property owners. 

Neighborliness begins with common courtesy and common sense.  Let’s leave the oppositional attitudes behind, and find common ground to move forward.  This would allow energies to be focused on the common good – including what all it will take for our community to actually realize a “revitalized” downtown.