Bend considers downtown parking improvements

Only 5 of 28 strategies outlined in the parking plan implemented so far

(Update: including video, additional changes, comments from city official)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The city of Bend is looking to ease the challenges of
parking downtown.

Bend Parking Services Division Manager Tobias Mark said Tuesday most of the city’s current downtown parking problems can be fixed with a simple solution – better communication.

Marx said parking capacity in the downtown corridor is at about 85%, the
exact level that should trigger some changes. He also estimated up to 40% of the traffic congestion downtown is related to people searching for parking.

To reduce that number, Marx said the next step is to make parking signs
explain your location, restrictions and time limits more clearly.

"In the garage, for example, on some levels you can only park if you have
a permit,” Marx said. “Well, let's be very clear about that. Sometimes, what we think needs one or two sentences can also be condensed to a few words, and that's often much easier to understand for a customer, especially residents and visitors."

Marx also said many other changes revolve around improving customer
experience. That includes making the parking garage on Lava Road safer and more modern by fixing the lighting, adding fresh concrete and revamping a mural program.

Marx also said the city may program the pay stations to send push
notifications to customers, letting them know their time is almost expired and giving them the option to pay for more time.

"If you and I can get a reminder that our time expired, or our free time expired, and we now can pay $1, and that $1 prevents a $12 citation, or $25, but with the discount, that's a good thing," Marx said.

At the moment you can get notifications, but they come straight through the ParkMobile app, not from the pay station itself.

Marx said right now is the best time to begin implementing these changes.

"The winter season is a little bit more quiet than the summer season, and I think that gives us perfect timing to work on these,” Marx said. “Visitors are
important, but I think residents are really important too. I think that the
more time we can spend listening to our residents, what their concerns are, and let that influence our next steps, how we implement and what, I think is important."

City officials outlined 28 improvements in the Downtown
Strategic Parking Management Plan. Since its creation in 2016, just five
have been implemented so far.