New Parking Proposal for Timbers Games Gets Aired (UPDATED with meeting)

Members of the Northwest District Association said at their meeting Monday night that they were taken by surprise with the city's new parking meter proposal for Portland Timbers home games.

The proposal (PDF) going to City Council for discussion this Wednesday, March 16 would give the transportation bureau authority to extend the metered hours of almost 450 parking spaces around the renamed stadium on game nights from 7 pm to 10 p.m. And it also would increase meter rates during that three-hour extension from $1.60 to $3.50 per hour.

Association vice president Gustavo Cruz doesn't think the city realizes how big the game-night crowds will be. And he hopes the city will monitor the first two home games so that they can adjust the program if neighbors' car congestion fears are realized.

"(The City) doesn't want the neighborhood flooded with cars, they want people to park in a lot or take public transportation." Cruz said.

But Cruz also said the city has been good about responding to residents' concerns as the neighborhood association works on reducing traffic impacts.

Below is the original post from Monday afternoon:

The Northwest District Association's meeting tonight will collect residents' opinions about a new proposal by Mayor Sam Adams and the Portland Bureau of Transportation that aims to discourage Portland Timbers fans from driving to home games. And at least one association official is already raising questions about that proposal.

The proposal (PDF) going to City Council for discussion this Wednesday, March 16 would give the transportation bureau authority to extend the metered hours of almost 450 parking spaces around the renamed stadium on game nights from 7 pm to 10 p.m. And it also would increase meter rates during that three-hour extension from $1.60 to $3.50 per hour. 

Bureau officials say extended metered parking hours will reduce neighborhood impacts and minimize traffic congestion caused by drivers looking for that mythical open space.

Gustavo Cruz, vice president of the neighborhood association, is skeptical. He says the NWDA wanted the city to place a 90-minute parking limit around the stadium to discourage fans from parking in the area.

"Why would you make it easier for people to park there? Isn't that backwards?" Cruz says. "I think it would be easy for some people to say if you establish meters and raise fees, fans will park elsewhere."

Tonight's NWDA meeting at Chapman Elementary School begins at 6 pm.