As part of the budget process, Transportation Director Robert Spillar mentioned some new parking meter districts could be on the horizon. These districts come at the behest of neighborhoods, who asked the city to consider their areas for meters to address parking congestion. Spillar said his department is currently considering meters in near-East Austin between Eighth and Sixth Streets (presumably along the fairly new and congested East Side bar district) and in an area of the Mueller development near the commercial zone. Spillar said his department responds to requests from neighborhoods and only determines whether they will get meters after conducting a study. Amazingly, the discussion circled back to the Butler Park Pitch and Putt, which has metered street parking along Lee Barton Drive. Spillar explained that these meters were not part of a parking meter district, but a response to people parking on that road long-term for work and use of street parking by nearby businesses.
Elizabeth Pagano is the editor of the Austin Monitor. More by Elizabeth Pagano