Construction has been the theme for Auburn this summer.
With the Toomer’s Corner intersection blocked off, there is a lack of parking downtown.
Since construction started, the Gay Street parking deck has been opened for public use according to Charles Duggan, city manager for the City of Auburn.
According to David Dorton, public affairs director for the City of Auburn, there is a four-hour time limit for the deck and a twohour limit on the street. The time limit is from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. on weekdays.
Dorton said the point of the time limit is to create turnover in parking for the downtown businesses and people who want to come downtown.
Detective Lt. Clarence Stewart said public safety officials have been chalking tires to keep track of how many hours a car is parked
in one space.
After four chalk marks, the owner of the car will receive a parking ticket, however, Stewart said he wasn’t sure if they were ticketing yet, since it is early in the process.
Dorton said the chalking does not affect the tire, and the process of giving out tickets is “nothing new.”
The City of Auburn leases out parking in the Gay Street parking deck, but people are not given a specific parking space, according to Dorton.
People with the ability to park in the deck for long periods of time receive a parking hangtag to put on their cars and are not subject to the chalk.
Those who have hangtags are not being charged for their lease this summer according to Dorton.
In a college town, people may be tempted to park in the deck and leave their car for an extended amount of time, Dorton said.
“It’s a place to park, but you could just leave your car so that’s why there’s a time limit,” Dorton said.
Although people will have to move their cars frequently, Dorton said he doesn’t think the system is creating any more traffic congestion
than before.
Kristin Taylor, who works at Wrapsody, said the time limit hasn’t affected their workers.
She said most of the workers work four hours anyway and managers receive hangtags from the City.
Stewart also said the four-hour time limit hasn’t affected parking congestion.
Duggan also said it’s possible that they are not chalking the tires if the parking deck isn’t close to full.
“Someone might risk it and gamble that the parking lot’s not full, “ Duggan said. “If we notice that the parking lots are getting full, then we’re definitely keeping a closer eye on it … we’re trying not to be too militant about it.”
“We may do it randomly, just to keep people honest,” Duggan said.
According to Dorton, when the corner construction is complete in August, parking will return to normal with active parking meters.
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