No More Parking in Median Downtown

Right now Commerce Street  is divided by cars in the middle of the street.
The City of Montgomery allows drivers to park in this median. But not for long.

“We’re just concerned about someone stepping out of their car in open lane of traffic and there being an accident. And it’s not ‘if’ it happens, it’s ‘when’ it’s going to happen and we can eliminate that by putting the median out there,” said Steve Jones, the city project manager.

Jones says that’s why a median project is about to start September 1st.
The 30 day project will bring the stretch of road to look more unified with the rest of the street.
“It will be a little bit of inconvenience in the area while it’s going on but again I think when we get done, you can look from the fountain to the tunnel of the river and there is just this clean, smooth area. Everybody’s going to be proud of it,” said Jones.

For people who normally park in the median, the project isn’t so welcome.

“When we’re going into work, sometimes there is nowhere else to park or the parking deck is really far, so it’s kind of messed up because even when people come down for the weekend, they kind of need that to park, so I think they should leave it,” said Chantale Williams.

Jones says there are many other places to park around town, including free city parking lots and inexpensive parking decks.
And he insists the parking problem is a good problem to have, which he says means the city is thriving.

And those who space is going away, will just have to find a new one.

“I think we will just park at a meter or park at a garage. It’ll be fine. We just got spoiled. Very convenient, yes,”  said Sonia Gibbs.

The City warns cars parked in the median on September 1st will be towed.