PORTLAND, Ore. (PORTLAND TRIBUNE) — Love ’em or hate ’em, parking meters are finally coming to Northwest Portland.
The Portland Bureau of Transportation announced Wednesday that they’ll start installing meters along Northwest 21st and Northwest 23rd avenues, from West Burnside to Northwest Vaughn, and on adjacent streets.
The action is part of the NW Portland Parking Plan, approved by City Council in 2013.
PBOT expects to begin installng the 360 meters on Feb. 2, weather permitting.
“With its significant density of residences, businesses and religious and educational institutions, Northwest Portland has faced the challenge of high-demand for parking,” the announcement from PBOT reads.
“The new parking meters will be an important tool to help PBOT, in partnership with neighborhood stakeholders, to better manage the parking supply.”
The NW Portland Parking Plan is the product of work between PBOT staff and residents, business owners and other neighborhood representatives.
The plan’s first major phase was to implement a permit parking zone, Zone M, last March.
“For quite some time, parking difficulties have negatively impacted livability and business vitality in this vibrant neighborhood,” said PBOT Director Leah Treat.
“With the installation of the new meters, we are taking a systematic approach that will allow us to meet the parking needs of residents, businesses and visitors alike. It’s a major step forward, and we believe this approach is a powerful tool we can potentially use to help alleviate the parking challenges in other high demand areas of Portland.”
The meter installation has been delayed by the former parking manager Ellis Mccoy’s bribery scandal.
The city attorney recently reviewed the internal investigation of the improprieties by Cale Group, the parent company of Cale America, the city’s meter supplier.
The city attorney concluded that Cale Group had conducted a “well-planned and thorough investigation” into misconduct surrounding the original 2006 meter contract and had taken “meaningful corrective action” in response to the misconduct.
PBOT had insisted on the review to ensure that the public could trust the integrity of the city’s contract with Cale America.
In a letter, Cale America has also assured the city that if it becomes aware of any allegations of unlawful conduct in its business relationship with the city, it will promptly investigate and take the appropriate corrective action.
Read the full city attorney’s report, including Cale America’s letter, here: portlandoregon.gov/transportation/article/560745.
As part of the Northwest Parking Plan, the majority of parking meter revenue will return to the district to finance improvements to the local transportation infrastructure.
In the next two weeks, PBOT will inform residents, business owners and visitors about the meter installation.The Portland Tribune is a KOIN 6 media partner.