Plans to change Easton’s parking policy hit a speed bump at Tuesday’s Town Council meeting, as noted in our highlight reel featuring comments from Mayor Megan Cook and Councilmembers Rev. Elmer Davis and Dr. David Montgomery as the town rethinks its approach to downtown parking.
Mayor Cook announced that the proposed parking ordinance has been withdrawn and that the concerns raised by residents during recent public hearings have been addressed. She said the goal now is to step back, correct misinformation, and get clear direction from the council on whether Easton should continue some form of paid parking or move to free parking.
Councilmember Davis said residents have been clear about wanting better enforcement of existing parking rules. He also suggested exploring transportation options to reduce the need for parking downtown.
Councilmember Montgomery discussed the challenge of balancing free parking with keeping spaces available for shoppers. He noted that enforcement and time limits may still be needed and that any parking decision will have budget and staffing impacts.
This video is approximately four minutes in length.
PARRIS PRICE says
Make the parking free. As far as public transportation, its practically non existent. I can literally walk to the store quicker than the bus, its an hour to do a ride,and thats not counting the time to shop. I’ve often been left waiting for an hour, because its lunch time, and the plan to fill the driver taking lunch is beyond inadequate. I had to spend over four hours once in Cambridge, because the driver wanted me to bribe him, and when I didn’t, he conveniently ” forgot” to pick me up.Having a bus travel both ways, instead of one way would be a start. Or in steady of 1 bus driving around for an hour to pick up 1 or 2 people, just make it a call for a ride. A van could handle 90% of the riders. It’s only the handicapped that need help that might require a ” big” bus.Something needs to be done, because the public transportation is run very poorly.
N R West says
Easton is now a small city and it requires reliable public transportation.