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The Palm Springs City Council will consider recommendations to improve downtown parking management at its Wednesday, Jan. 28 meeting. A 2024 study found the area has sufficient capacity but struggles with operational issues and driver perception.
Driving the news: A comprehensive parking study by Dixon Resources Unlimited revealed downtown's two public garages operate at just 15-29% capacity, while on-street spaces along Palm Canyon Drive reach 95% occupancy on weekends.
- The study analyzed approximately 2,286 parking spaces during off-peak periods in January and May, finding an average occupancy rate of 29% across all facilities.
Why it matters: The imbalance creates a false perception of parking scarcity when ample capacity exists nearby. Most vehicles park for short periods — 92% stayed three hours or less — challenging assumptions about long-term parkers monopolizing spaces.
What's wrong: Operational problems discourage garage use, including inconsistent signage, faded striping, trash and graffiti in the Downtown Parking Garage, and inoperable elevators at the Baristo Road facility.
- Time limits vary widely from three minutes to unlimited parking, with some signs obscured by vehicles.
What's next: City staff proposed a phased strategy with short-term actions including standardized time limits, improved enforcement, better wayfinding signage, and a structural analysis of the Belardo parking structure — all within 12 months.
The big picture: Staff emphasized the core issue isn't the number of spaces but their efficiency and visibility, suggesting operational improvements could maximize existing infrastructure without expanding supply.
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