City Council Holds Work Session on Parking Utilization Study Update

The City Council will hold a work session on Monday, September 23, 2024, from 6 to 7 pm in Council Chambers at City Hall. The work session will include a review and discussion of the results of the Parking Utilization Study and provide initiatives and strategies for consideration. 

The study includes: 

• A review of prior and existing parking, traffic, transit, pedestrian, bicycle, and micro-modal studies and plans;
• A study of current policies, operating procedures, municipal ordinances, and zoning codes as they pertain to parking, mobility, and transit;
• The collection of field data to establish baseline parking and mobility conditions and patterns in downtown Portsmouth;
• A land use inventory of existing properties and proposed future development in downtown Portsmouth;
• The creation of a parking demand model specific to downtown Portsmouth and forecasting of future needs; and
• Updates to the City of Portsmouth Parking Principles to reflect current conditions and concerns.

The Parking Utilization Study was launched in 2022 when the City of Portsmouth issued a Request for Proposals and selected DESMAN Design Management, Inc. to study the supply and demand for parking in downtown Portsmouth. Since June 2023, a Parking Utilization Advisory Group composed of City staff, residents, business owners, and local leaders have collaborated with DESMAN to assess and identify current and alternative approaches to ensuring a flexible, responsive municipal parking system.

For more information, visit the 2023 Parking Needs page.