Aspinwall to examine parking problems via study

Aspinwall officials know they have to do something about parking issues in the borough.

What possible solutions there are will be determined through a new study.

Council approved a $50,000 deal with Walker Consultants to examine spaces, potential changes to the zoning ordinance, collect data and come up with recommendations that may make Aspinwall a more comfortable place to live and visit.

Borough Manager Melissa Lang O’Malley said Walker Consultants was one of three vendors interviewed.

It’s a national employee-owned firm that offers planning, engineering, architecture and other services. Its local office is in Canonsburg.

“They had the most experience with delivering implementable recommendations and results for the communities they have worked with across the country,” O’Malley said. “Further, they were excited to work with the parking steering committee and had a clear plan on how they would engage with our community.”

The study will be paid for through capital reserves. Requests for proposals went out months ago.

The vote was unanimous Aug. 14 to approve the study spearheaded by Councilman Mark Chimel.

“I’m feeling good about it,” Chimel said. “It’s definitely taken some time to get to this point, but I think it was time well spent making sure we went through the process fully and interviewed three different potential vendors and did our due diligence there.

“I’m feeling good about where we ended up with Walker. They have a lot of expertise and a lot of experience.”

A parking study was a recommendation in the comprehensive plan developed within the past few years.

The first official meeting between Walker Consultants and the borough’s parking steering committee is expected to take place some time in September.

It is expected to take about four months for the company to generate a report.

Chimel said consultants will stick around for some time afterward to help implement recommendations.

The steering committee includes council members and residents. There are about 10 to 15 active members.

Part of the study involves:

• identifying the number of spots available in the borough;

• the number of spots needed for businesses;

• average and range of sizes of parking spots in residential areas across a representative cross-section of residential streets;

• the number of garages and parking pads currently available to residents.

“It’s definitely a supply-and-demand issue,” Chimel said about parking problems. “Understanding there’s a limited amount of space and a limited amount of parking spots. There may be increasing demand just based on a number of cars coming, the number of businesses. That’s one of the things we’re trying to figure out.”

Residents can help

Residents will be able to assist Walker Consults with data collection.

“That was one of the driving factors in why we went with Walker,” Chimel said. “They really had a good plan for not only engaging residents in the discussion, but also involving residents in data collection and involving residents throughout the whole process. Really making this a community project combined with their expertise doing this type of thing.”

Police Chief David Nemec said his officers issue 200 or more parking tickets a month.

“Since I’ve been here, that’s probably been a No. 1 problem through this town,” Nemec said. “We’re always hit it hard when it comes to parking — whether it be yellow lines and meters and resident parking. There are always big issues, and the residents let us know.

“When it comes to meters, it doesn’t matter if you are a resident or not.”

The borough increased parking fees in 2022. It was the first increase in fines since the 1990s.

They range from $10 for expired parking meters to $50 for parking along yellow lines, obstruction of a fire lane and hydrant access and parking in a resident-only space without a permit.

Nemec said a lot of citations are issued to drivers along Delafield Avenue by UPMC St. Margaret hospital.

“We’re constantly looking at ways to improve parking, which I think that study is going to help,” the chief said. “And I’m sure Mark will do a good job with the borough and all of us working together.”

More information about borough parking, including how to get a permit and pay a ticket, is available at aspinwallpa.com.