Downtown Parking Management Updates

I enjoy that these spots downtown are free 2 hour parking. I always really appreciate whenever I see an open spot for a quick park, but I don’t mind using the garage if I see that all spots are full. The garages are so cheap, that I don’t feel the need to crawl through the streets for an empty spot. The way the spots are arranged make it easier to get in and out without causing much of a traffic issue. It would be more inconvenient to have to street park and pay via meter, app, etc. on the street.

I work for Larimer County at 200 W. Oak Street. I tend to park by Otter, usually somewhere near the intersection of Oak and Meldrum.

My main issue with the new parking proposal is it extends 2 hour parking limits across this entire area. This particular intersection is not residential nor is there retail, so I don't understand the making this paid parking for employees that work around there (County, bank, Otter, etc. employees). While I do pay for a permit to the garage on Main I tend to feel safer parking by Oak/Meldrum than using the garage.

I urge to you reconsider rezoning this area. If you do move forward then I urge you to allow employees of nearby businesses an exemption or access to a permit. Thank you for your consideration.

One of the features of Ft. Collins that attracts the community downtown is free street parking. Charging for parking will deter people from coming downtown and businesses will suffer. As part of a large senior citizen population, know that many are not able to bike downtown, nor willing to walk from the parking garage to businesses. Do not impose parking fees for street parking. Keep our "Choice City" amazing!

One of the features that makes Ft. Collins a unique "Choice City" is free street parking. The community loves coming downtown because of it. Imposing charges will deter people from coming downtown and businesses will suffer. As part of a large population of senior citizens, know that many of us are not able to bike downtown nor willing to walk the distance from parking garage to businesses. Please reconsider and keep our amazing downtown welcoming. Thank you!

This is starting to become a bit much. Born and raised here and I'm sick of the ways our government is making it impossible to live here. Sure parking only costs a few bucks but I'm tired of being nickel and dimed for everything. I already rarely go downtown anymore because inflation and prices are out of hand... businesses are already having a hard time in old Town...why make it worse?

Our City has grown a lot since the age of horse and wagon. It will continue to grow, especially with Jeni Arndt, Chris Conway, Emily Francis, and other city council candidates, all pushing for more density and increased housing, over 45,000 to start.
Looking for free street parking is difficult at best, with many playing the musical parking space game of slow roll and wait, or drive in circles 5 times, which bogs down traffic. Workers take up patron spaces since they are the only free ones. Put workers and those who don't want to pay in the garages for free or very cheap rates. Street parking convenience should come with a nominal fee. Patrons will be more likely to consider time, freeing up parking spaces more frequently. Maybe public transportation will become a more favorable option?
We also need a lot more handicap parking spaces.
We really need numerous secure bicycle parking lots with plenty of room and good racks for e-bikes (secure being the operative word!).

I'm excited to see this proposal. It looks very comprehensive and well thought out.

I think this proposal will not discourage people from coming to old town. It will hopefully encourage other forms of transportation to old town instead. And drivers should benefit from more open / convenient parking options and less circling the block as long as the system for paying to park is easy and accessible, as to not counter the benefits of convenient close parking.

The cost of parking in down town is too great and it shouldn't be subsidized by people who dont use it.

Congestion priced parking will make finding the best spot much more convenient for those who need it.

This is a great step to making old town a place for people instead of cars.

I hope the city has follow up plans to expand alternatives transit options to old town. More public transit please!!

I'm excited to see this proposal. It looks very comprehensive and well thought out.

I think this proposal will not discourage people from coming to old town. It will hopefully encourage other forms of transportation to old town instead. And drivers should benefit from more open / convenient parking options and less circling the block as long as the system for paying to park is easy and accessible, as to not counter the benefits of convenient close parking.

The cost of parking in down town is too great and it shouldn't be subsidized by people who dont use it.

Congestion priced parking will make finding the best spot much more convenient for those who need it.

This is a great step to making old town a place for people instead of cars.

I hope the city has follow up plans to expand alternatives transit options to old town. More public transit please!!

I believe that on street parking in old town should be eliminated entirely and traffic be diverted to garages.

Overall I think it's sad that utilizing our downtown will come with yet another fee. That being said, our garages downtown are excellent. The page suggests that our parking model is "upside down", with prime parking being free and garage parking being paid. Perhaps instead of charging everyone always, we truly turn this "right side up" and make the first two hours of parking in the garages free?

Personally I bike downtown as much as I can, since it is a far more pleasant experience. However not everyone has the privilege of good health and cannot do this. The Max is also great, but unfortunately it directly services very little housing so it's not a very convenient option for most to get downtown. For those who can't use public transit or bicycles, this seems like a downtown usage tax, more or less.

One final non-sequitur if we want to improve the downtown experience: we desperately need enforcement of the noise ordinance and Colorado's anti coal-rolling law downtown.

This is a great idea I really hope it cuts down on the number of cruisers looking for a spot

Finally. Even making garages dirt cheap compared to street parking would solve so many issues.

I'd wager that the estimate on how much traffic is just people circling for a good spot is a gross understatement.

As a fully remote worker, I use a coworking space in Old Town a few times a week. Personally, this gives me access to community, but perhaps more importantly, I'm much more likely to buy a coffee, eat out for lunch, and do a little shopping in Old Town on my break than I would be if I was at home. If the 2 hour parking zone is extended, I will no longer be able to use the coworking space. There's a waitlist for monthly parking permits in the garages and there won't be a place I can park for more than 2 hours during the day. The current Transfort schedule doesn't make it possible for me to use public transit and as a parent, I need access to a vehicle for emergencies during the day. It wouldn't be comfortable for me to have to wait up to an hour for a bus home to get a car to get my child from school if he was ill.

I fully support a more logical parking plan that takes into account workers as well as shoppers and gives people options to spend time (and money) in Old Town.

Definitely charge for parking. But more than that, the downtown has become completely unusable for outdoor dining and other activities due to the amount of large pickup trucks and motorcycles speeding down college. Prioritize transit and traffic enforcement! Never seen FC Police actually care about violators.

Please go through with this and start working towards limiting the parking more on linden and walnut. Id love to see old town square grow towards Jefferson being the edge and more walking on the walnut and linden streets. To alleviate some of the older crowd complaining about having to walk fort collins downtown could look into a valet service if possible for people tp drop their vehicles off in a designated spot near the heart of dt but not having to walk from the garages.

This is a great idea. I love the garages and would like to see them stay at the same rate and then charge slightly more for street parking. It would really help downtown!

This is a great idea! The garages are fantastic and it's a shame more people don't use them. I think adding paid parking for the streets that is slightly more expensive than the garages and keeping the garages the same as they currently are would be an ideal solution.

I strongly oppose the proposed change from free to paid parking in Fort Collins. Free parking is more inclusive and ensures that all residents—regardless of income—can access our downtown. Paid parking creates unnecessary barriers for families, seniors, and workers who already face rising costs.

Free parking also directly supports our small businesses. Visitors are more likely to stop, shop, and dine when they don’t have to worry about meters or tickets. Turning to paid parking risks driving customers away to other areas with easier access.

Finally, free parking is part of what makes Fort Collins unique. It helps preserve the welcoming charm of our town and keeps us from becoming just another copy of Boulder, Denver, or other large cities that feel driven by revenue instead of community.

I urge you to maintain free parking and keep Fort Collins accessible, supportive and of small businesses.

This is a TAX not a fee, call it what it is. I will actively boycott and protest any and all downtown business. I will also be protesting in front of any and all shops to try and get people to STOP shopping if this goes thru. I am retired and have a lot of time on my hands. FAFO!

I support the proposal. The on street parking should be paid and the garages should be free or significantly cheaper to encourage their use and reduce traffic on college and mountain. I avoid eating at restaurant patios on college because of the noise from traffic. The square and the exchange are much more enjoyable areas because they are away from cars. Extend the MAX hours and even fewer people will need to drive into old town.