Parking Wars in Bluebonnet Hills
by Steve SmithIn the Bluebonnet Hills neighborhood, maybe the most contentious issue is parking. Drive the streets to the south of the TCU campus and it isn’t unusual to see an unending line of cars, trucks and SUVs. Where are all these vehicles coming from? Not surprisingly, many of them have a TCU connection.
Some are from students who live in on-campus housing and park their cars in these neighborhoods. Others are from commuter students. Some of these are from students who actually live in houses in the neighborhood.
However, if the source of the problem is clear, the solution is anything but.
The Bluebonnet Hillls Neighborhood Association had proposed a residential parking permit program to mitigate this problem. But last week, the City of Fort Worth’s Infrastructure and Transportation Committee — which includes City Council members Joel Burns, Carter Burdette, Chuck Silcox and Sal Espino heard a presentation from Rick Vasquez, the program manager of the city’s transportation and public works department, that recommended against such a program, which essentially killed this potential option. Burns, who is the Council representative for the neighborhood, said the main reason is money — a residential parking permit program would require a city employee to administer the program and that’s a non-starter because of the city’s current budget woes.
So, on to Plan B: The City has offered to fix the parking situation through the use of “No Parking” signs on both sides of the street that would prevent cars from being parked there all day or for a stretch of several days. However, not all residents are in agreement — some homeowners say they need to park their cars on the street. And without that consensus, Burns said that he can’t make a recommendation about how to move forward.
As a resident of this neighborhood, I understand the frustration but I don’t think permits or permits are an appropriate solution — it will just move the problem from one part of the neighborhood to another. Having lived around campus in Austin, I’ve always just thought of the parking crunch as part of living close to a university campus.
Thoughts? Discuss.
Tags: Bluebonnet Hills, TCU
7 Comments, Comments or Pings
Kevin Buchanan
Never understood having a problem with on-street parking. Helps to slow down traffic and protect pedestrians.
Sep 15th, 2008
JK@GT
I agree that it slows traffic. However, there are situations where the streets are not wide enough for (4) cars accross. This causes a traffic issue with drivers at either end of a single lane road trying to deside who goes first. Also,as a driver, I am always worried that those SUVs are hiding a child or pet that could dart out at any moment. I don’t agree that a street full of parked cars is safer for pedestrains in a single family housing neighborhood.
A solution: Maybe the shopping center to the south/west of that area could become a park and ride. I seem to remember that it is pretty empty most of the time. I also see that there is an existing route of The-T that is very near there. Maybe a discussion with the city could have it go 2 more blocks and cover that shopping center and any students parking there.
Just an idea……
Sep 15th, 2008
John MacFarlane
I agree, the on-street parking in that area is a huge problem. It’s too bad the proposal was shot down. I would put up no parking signs and make the TCU students park at TCU parking lot at Sandage and Berry and WALK! Walking is such a new concept to TCU. God forbid you walk 6 blocks to school. At Texas A&M, I had to walk about 1/3 to 1/2 mile to go to class on the west side.
And why would it cost so much, all you have to do it print up parking stickers for the neighborhood and the police just have to look for that sticker when the are writing tickets. Better yet, have the TCU rent a cops write the tickets for anyone who has a TCU sticker on their car!
Sep 15th, 2008
Andy Mans
As a cyclist, I’m always paranoid about the spontaneous opening car door.
They should do like some northern neighborhoods and have day parking only. Tow everyone at night.
Sep 15th, 2008
Kevin Buchanan
JK,
Also never had a problem with having to have a car wait while another car passes down a narrow street. Another thing that helps slow cars down. We could use more narrow streets like that, IMHO.
Sep 16th, 2008
ann
I live in the area as well and while I don’t like the stark look of absolutely no cars parked on the streets, not to mention those ugly “no parking” signs every few feet. (The City’s proposal is for 12 signs in a one block area!) I also don’t like the over crowded streets with cars so jammed in that it interferes with those that live there getting in and out of their own driveways. The clutter we are talking about on these streets adjacent to TCU is more than what is helpful to calm traffic. In addition some have mentioned the concern of emergency vehicles being able to get through.
I was aware that the parked cars came from two sorces you mentioned, residents and day students that live off campus but it surprises me that you say some of them are students who live on campus and park in the surrounding neighborhoods. This should not be permitted. Are the students just trying to not pay for on campus parking? That needs to stop. Maybe TCU can be helpful here?
When this issue was first brought before the neighborhood association I googled a few citys I knew that had resident only parking and saw that fees were charged for the permits which would address the funding issue the City is concerned about. So I thought it would be a do-able solution. I’m sorry to hear the City is not interested in at least trying a pilot program to see if it could work. However, from my limited observations in the area I think there would still be quite a few cars parked on the streets even if it was resident only as many of these houses are rental units with multiple occupants who park on the street to avoid shuffleing cars in their own driveways.
I do agree that if you only implement a program, be it resident only or no parking, in a limited area it’s only going to push the problem to the next closest streets.
Tough situation… I wonder what other towns with Universities in them do…I think this issues is also a problem for neighbors of Bluebonnet Circle who have customers parking into the neighborhood due to limited parking for those businesses.
Sep 16th, 2008
Jonathan
if the problem is congestion on the streets, just disallow parking on one side of the street. If you want to enhance traffic calming without engaging in outright traffic blocking, alternate the side on which you can park each block. Two signs per block should be sufficient. (No Parking -> and <- No Parking)
If the problem is a shortage of parking, the only way to reduce demand is to increase the cost. That means parking permits that cost money.
Sep 16th, 2008
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