2 goBerkeley public meetings on parking coming up

Parking pay stations in some Berkeley neighborhoods may get new signage as part of goBerkeley. Photo: Alta Planning + Design/goBerkeley

Residents will have a chance to weigh in on and learn about proposed parking changes around Berkeley at two meetings coming up within the next week.

The downtown, Telegraph and Elmwood neighborhoods are slated to see changes to metered parking starting in September as part of the goBerkeley pilot campaign underway by the city to cut down on carbon emissions and encourage alternative transportation. The changes would be in place for at least one year, with minor adjustments possible along the way.

At the meetings, city staff will present proposed changes to parking rates and time limits — building on community and City Council input — that are part of the goBerkeley pilot program to improve the parking experience around town.

Thursday night, Aug. 1, residents can attend a meeting from 5-6:30 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church at 2362 Bancroft Way.

Monday, Aug. 5, a meeting will be held from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge St.

(One meeting, at Mrs. Dalloway’s Bookstore on College Avenue, took place Monday.)

Staff proposed changes to metered parking in three commercial districts that are part of the pilot program. Council members said they aren’t likely to extend parking in the Elmwood to 8 p.m. (Click the chart to see the full goBerkeley presentation made earlier this month.)

Ultimately, the city hopes to adjust its 1,700 parking meters to charge more in areas around parking garages to encourage longer-term parkers to use garages rather than surface streets. The hourly rate inside city-owned garages could eventually go down to $1 per hour to spur people to use them more, but that depends in part on the city’s loan commitments in relation to the garages.

goBerkeley is a three-year pilot program that aims, its proponents say, “to improve the ease of traveling within key areas of the city of Berkeley. It will test methods of reducing local traffic congestion, improving parking options, and promoting alternatives to driving one’s personal vehicle.” (A push to use City CarShare vehicles, or those from other shared fleets, is part of the effort.)

The program is funded by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s Climate Initiatives Program ($2 million); the Federal Highways Administration’s Value Pricing Pilot Program ($900,000), and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District ($100,000).

For more information, visit www.goBerkeley.info.

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Emilie Raguso