Washington Street Parking Management Study

Washington Street is a major four-lane, north-south arterial that goes through a very vibrant downtown in Naperville, Illinois. The paper discusses how the issue of whether to allow parking on Washington Street in the downtown area has been a recurring, unresolved concern for decades. The issue has escalated with the growth of the downtown and the city’s population and motorists on Washington Street would like the parking removed while the businesses want it to remain. The Washington Street Parking Management Study was designed to evaluate the influence of on-street parking on Washington Street and recommend improvements to better manage the on-street parking. The study utilized three guiding principles: (1) manage traffic; (2) promote a variety of mobility options; and (3) sustain and enhance economic vitality. City staff used public perceptions as a starting point for discussion and data collection. The data collection measures included transportation studies, surveys, comments from comparable communities, and data from a literature review. The data was used to determine if the perceptions were accurate and to develop recommendations to mitigate unresolved issues. The project also included extensive public involvement, which included meetings with stakeholder groups, public meetings, and website posting of project materials. Before the project began, there were many who thought the project would be a “waste of time”. However, in the end, the stakeholders agreed that the study was worthwhile and were impressed with the process. Because of the process, the city is confident the recommendations will be supported and future discussions will now be based on facts rather than perceptions.