[MissoulaGov] Parking Kiosks

[Geoff Badenoch]

Because the way Downtown developed--before there were automobiles--there was
precious little land set aside for off-street vehicle parking.  As has been
observed, the available on-street parking spaces are precious and need to be
turned over fairly regularly in order to be useful for businesses which make
up most of Downtown Missoula.

The revenue derived from meters is used to underwrite the cost of parking
management and the development of additional parking facilities.  The
Missoula Parking Commission is more than that, though.  It is a partner in
efforts to reduce demand for cars Downtown, for example, and MPC subscribes
to a philosophy of "parking demand management" which is another way to say
they try to give people an alternative to parking by encouraging biking,
Mountain Line, etc. MPC was a partner in the acquisition of the green
trolley that helps take people to and from the Farmers Market, Out To Lunch,
etc.   

We have parking meters thanks to Juliette Gregory, Missoula's first and only
woman Mayor. Meters were installed Downtown in around 1947 during her
administration, I believe.  She was not given a second term.

-----Original Message-----
From: missoulagov-bounces at cmslists.com
[mailto:missoulagov-bounces at cmslists.com] On Behalf Of Sally Brown
Sent: Monday, December 07, 2009 1:38 PM
To: Jordan Hess
Cc: Brent Campbell; missoulagov at cmslists.com
Subject: Re: [MissoulaGov] Parking Kiosks

What!  No free parking with the free lunch?

This makes sense.  Why, then, is it only the downtown area that has 
parking meters.  How does the city get it's money out of the free large 
parking lots surrounding the urban core?