By Adam Swift
The town council is taking steps to address parking and traffic issues in Winthrop.
At its most recent meeting, the council approved a motion submitted by Council President Jim Letterie asking that Town Manager Tony Marino seek proposals and funding opportunities for a comprehensive parking and traffic study of the town.
Once the study is completed, the town manager would then report back to the council with recommendations for implementation.
“Councilor (Kurt) Millar has talked about this too, but the town council would just like the town manager to seek proposals and funding opportunities for a comprehensive parking and traffic study,” said Letterie.
In the motion, the council president stated that parking and traffic is a significant concern for residents, businesses, visitors and municipal operations throughout Winthrop. In addition, he stated that existing parking conditions may affect neighborhood quality of life, public safety, economic activity, and access to public facilities and services.
Seasonal fluctuations, residential growth, transportation trends, and changing community needs warrant a current of parking resources and demands, the motion continued.
“A professional parking study (and) traffic study would provide data-driven analysis and recommendations to assist the Town in making informed policy decisions,” Letterie stated.
Marino said he would begin action on gathering information about the studies.
The study would evaluate parking inventory, traffic, enforcement practices, residential parking conditions, business district parking demand, beach and seasonal parking impacts and look at opportunities for improved parking management.
In addition the council is asking that the study identify short-term and long-term strategies to improve parking and traffic, efficiency, accessibility, and enforcement; and identify the feasibility of adding a commercial plate parking policy in residential parking areas.