FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The City of Springfield Department of Public Works, in partnership with the Commercial Street community, will introduce reverse-angle parking to C-Street as an eight-week pilot beginning Saturday, July 9.
Reverse-angle parking involves parking stalls that are pointed away from the flow of on-coming traffic. Drivers must pull past the targeted spot, stop and signal, then slowly back in. While this style of parking has been implemented successfully in cities nation-wide, C-Street would be the first to utilize it in Springfield.
Transportation experts say reverse-angle parking is safer than standard head-in angle parking because of increased driver visibility when pulling out of a space into on-coming traffic.
The pilot program will involve restriping and posting signs in the pilot area between Robberson Avenue and Jefferson Avenue, near the market plaza. C-Street businesses will distribute information to help educate visitors to the area. All are encouraged to weigh-in on their parking experience through an online survey found at springfieldmo.gov/parking.
“We know this is a new concept, so our focus is to educate the public and then give them the opportunity to try it,” said Public Works Traffic Engineer Eric Claussen. “Our end-goal is to learn whether reverse-angle parking is right for C-Street.”
A 2015 parking study of the booming district found a need for 170 additional parking spaces. While several options are being explored, the quickest and lowest-cost solution is to restripe the existing on-street parking to eliminate the center lane and replace the parallel stalls on the south side of the street with angled stalls.
Angled parking will create over 80 additional on-street parking spots.
While reverse-angle stalls will not provide additional spaces than traditional angled parking, the added safety benefits for vehicles, passengers and bicyclists appealed to C-Street business owners who brought the idea forward in meetings with Public Works.
From 2010 to 2014, there were 10 crashes reported on Commercial Street involving a vehicle backing out of an angled space. This represents 55% of crashes on Commercial Street during that time period.
“C-Street is becoming a popular area with a unique personality,” Claussen said. “We support their effort to be cutting-edge and remain friendly and safe for all who share the road.”
For more information, contact Public Works Traffic Engineer Eric Claussen at 417-874-1212 or Communication Coordinator Kristen Milam at 573-819-3713.