GAINESVILLE – City leaders say when it’s all over - in six months or less - parking in the downtown area will be “dramatically” better.
Thursday morning the Gainesville City Council heard from Communication & Tourism Director Nikki Perry of how visitors, patrons, students and workers to the downtown square will need to “flex” when they visit, shop, attend class or report for work beginning next month. That’s when the city owned parking deck will undergo major expansion.
Perry said it will all be worth it that when construction is finished as nearly 1500 public parking spaces will eventually be available downtown, a number that does not include private parking spots.
In the meantime, “We’ve worked out some parking solutions with our community partners,” Perry said. “We’ve had real good participation with different property owners and businesses in the community.”
She said that the city had partnered with Brenau University, the Northeast Georgia History Center, Ramada Inn, St. Paul United Methodist Church and several other business entities to provide for remote parking during construction on the city owned parking deck.
The four-level structure now holds 419 vehicles; two more levels will be added increasing the deck’s capacity by another 180 vehicles.
Perry said Tuesday, September 4, the fourth level will be closed so contractors can accomplish some demolition work that needs to happen in preparation of the two levels that will be added onto it.
On September 24 the entire parking structure will be closed.
A massive crane will be sited on Main Street the week before the September 24 closing, requiring the closure of the portion of Main Street adjacent to the parking deck.
Weather permitting work should be finished by the end of January, 2019, with levels 1-3 reopening after Thanksgiving for the start of the Christmas shopping season.
While the deck is closed city government employees will be required to park remotely, and most of the downtown businesses have said they will require the same of their employees. A free shuttle bus service will transport employees, and anyone else parking remotely, between downtown and the various remote parking lots.
Hall Area Transit Director Phillippa Lewis-Moss said, “We’re looking to transport not only city employees but also guests to the downtown area, as well as Brenau faculty, staff and students; we’re talking about several hundred people.”
As presently scheduled the shuttle will operate every 15-minutes Monday through Friday from 7-9 a.m. and from 4-6 p.m. The rides are free and begin September 24th.
(See the map of the shuttle by clicking on the photo of Nikki Perry above and then clicking on the right edge of that photo.)
MORE SHUTTLE SERVICE PLANNED
In less than four weeks the ICF Dragon Boat World Championship visits the Clark Bridge Park Olympic Venue on Lake Lanier, and that means a lot of people will be descending our area to compete and spectate.
Communication & Tourism Director Nikki Perry said, “We’ll be welcoming over a thousand athletes from seventeen different countries to Gainesville. It’s going to be like the ’96 Olympics.”
For the five day event the city plans to provide shuttle service between area hotels/motels and area restaurants. According to city leaders it is being done as a service to visitors staying in Gainesville and to minimize traffic congestion as athletes, family members and fans head out to dinner September 11th though September 15th inclusive.
Hall Area Transit Director Phillippa Lewis-Moss told council members, “We’ll basically go to about a dozen hotels and literally do a loop up and down Jesse Jewell (Parkway) and Dawsonville Highway. It’s called the ‘Supper Shuttle’.”
“It’ll only operate during the evening because the athletes will be at the venue,” Lewis-Moss added.
City Manager Bryan Lackey said, “I think it’s great for our athletes and great for our restaurants.”
Shuttle service will operate from 6:30-9:30 p.m. and a $1 fare will be charged for one way service.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2018/8/703382/gainesville-unveils-plan-for-parking-and-shuttle-service