Downtown parking study discussed at city council meeting

The results of a parking study presented to the Cape Girardeau City Council shows that on-street parking downtown can be confusing and, at times, crowded.

The study also reported that there seems to be plenty of parking off of city streets, but that it is mainly on private property and often has no markings to guide motorists on whether the owner allows the public to use the lot.

Douglas Shatto, an engineer wth Crawford, Bunte and Brammeier of St. Louis, said he studied the area from Sprigg Street along Broadway and downtown along Main and Spanish streets. Faded markings and poorly placed signs are one issue, he said, and while the peak parking time of noon has 44 percent of spaces filled, in some locations every space is used.

The lack of off-street parking is being addressed in part with the creation of a parking area at Water Street and Broadway, but in other locations off-street parking is nonexistent. "That is one of the missing links," Shatto said.

The study will be used to examine how the city can improve markings and manage off-street parking so property owners have an incentive to share lots, said Kelly Green, city engineer.

In other business, the council approved a revised tree ordinance, with new lists of trees approved for planting on public property and repealing the requirement for setbacks from curbs or sidewalks. While some trees eventually damage sidewalks, making sure that older trees are replaced after removal is more important than those costs, said John Layton, chairman of the tree board. "We believe we can justify doing a little bit of repair work every 60 years or so," he said.

Council members also heard that the city has been approved for two projects under the federal stimulus bill. Both projects will be managed by the Missouri Department of Transportation, Green said. The projects are an overlay of asphalt on William Street, also known as Route K, from Kingshighway to Interstate 55, which will cost about $500,000, and widening Route W from Lexington to LaSalle avenues. Route W, which is 18 to 22 feet wide now, will be 22 to 30 feet wide after the $2.3 million project.

Airport manager Bruce Loy said he is still awaiting word on whether a $1.6 million runway improvement plan will receive stimulus funding.

rkeller@semissourian.com

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