COLUMBUS, Ohio – Visitors to the Short North are about to find it easier to park and businesses and restaurants in the neighborhood hopes that leads to more shoppers and diners.
Morning and afternoon rush-hour parking restrictions will be removed from more than 120 parking meters along stretches of High Street between Goodale Street and King Avenue between now and the beginning of March, says Department of Public Service Director Tracie Davies.
Neighborhood leaders asked for the changes follow a Service Department study of traffic patterns. Betsy Pandora, executive director of the Short North Alliance calls the move “a huge win for our small business community.”
Restrictions between 7:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekdays will be removed at a 10 meters on both sides of High Street between Goodale Street and Poplar Street on the I-670 cap.
Afternoon rush-hour restrictions will be removed at nine meters on the east side of High Street between 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue and on weekday restriction between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. will be removed at 103 meters on the west side of High Street between Poplar and King Avenue.
Weather permitting, Davies says crews will remove existing No Stopping signs, Tow Away Zone parking meter stickers and other regulatory signs and re-program the meters to accommodate the changes this month.
The administration of Mayor Michael Coleman has been trying to increase parking in the Short North, Italian Village and downtown to boost stores, galleries, restaurants and other businesses in those areas.