What is the position of the DWSP On-Street Parking Increases and Modernization Program.

Downtown Stakeholders have concerns about the parking increases that were approved by the City of Winston-Salem in December 2024.  They ask us what the position of the Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership is?

The Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership is opposed to the rapid increase in on-street parking rates.  The DWSP believes that modernization is necessary, but parking rates should be gradually increased over time.  These concerns were shared directly with the city and with the public and were the lead story in the September 19th, 2024 edition of the Winston-Salem Journal.  Link to the news story below.

 

 

 

 

 

We have been urging others who share concerns as we do directly with the Mayor and City Council of The City of Winston-Salem.  Link for contact information to the City Council.  & The Mayor

 

The 2023 Downtown Plan (on page 21) states the following:

C1: Improve Parking

Downtown currently has 800 metered on-street spaces, plus loading zones and unmetered on-street spaces. Metered parking time limits range from 30 minutes to 10 hours. Most meters allow one- to two-hour parking. Regular meters accept only quarters. There are now more than 2,300 off-street parking spaces. Off-street parking provides convenient parking in a protected location. Nearly three-quarters of all off-street spaces are located in decks. The remainder are in parking lots.

This Plan recommends:

  • Updating technology for on-street parking to a non-cash system.
  • Reviewing rates as related to other North Carolina Downtowns
  • Creating more on-street parking on 5th Street.
  • Promoting parking decks.
  • Promoting the addition of charging stations for electric cars.
  • Creating and establishing affordable parking for Downtown businesses and employees.
  • Creating better access for physically disabled.
  • Creating a taskforce to examine the feasibility of additional drop off and loading zones.
  • Retrofitting bike racks to park

 

If you have questions regarding specific matters about on-street parking, we suggest contacting the City of Winston-Salem, Department of Transportation at (336) 747-6868.