Uptown parking conversions add 186 new parking spaces

The Uptown Community Parking District (UCPD) is proud to announce more than 90 new parking spaces in Bankers Hill, 76 new spaces in Hillcrest, new motorcycle parking in International Restaurant Row (IRR) and 10 spaces in Mission Hills — totaling 186 for Uptown neighborhoods in fiscal year 2018.

These spaces are the direct result of a collaborative effort between UCPD staff and the city of San Diego’s Economic Development Department (EDD). UCPD would like to specifically recognize the efforts of several EDD staff members, including Neighborhood Investment Manager Elizabeth Studebaker, Senior Traffic Engineer Tanner French, and Junior Civil Engineer Genoveva Romero-Marquez.

The 186 new spaces represent the first phases of a neighborhood-wide review to maximize on-street parking inventory throughout the Uptown community.

These parking conversions would not have been available without the help of Councilmember Chris Ward and his diligent community representative, Brittany Bailey. A big step in the process involved changing Municipal Code 86.0104. Those changes expedited the process by removing the need for City Council to approve parking conversions.

UCPD staff is currently preparing notices for the next phase of parking conversions in the Bankers Hill neighborhood. This second phase represents a partnership between the city, UCPD and the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG).

These spaces were identified by SANDAG staff at the request of the UCPD board of directors to offset parking losses in Uptown due to the upcoming SANDAG “GO by BIKE” bicycle lanes along Fourth and Fifth avenues. The conversions will add a net gain of 41 new parking spaces to Uptown.

Additional UCPD projects include the expansion of the Access Hillcrest Shuttle program, which provides free service seven days a week throughout the downtown core and east Hillcrest.

Beginning in August, the newly named Access Hillcrest Shuttle began weekend service in east Hillcrest. The new weekend Access Hillcrest shuttle operates from 9 a.m.–2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, offering additional transportation options for visitors looking to shop, brunch or visit the Hillcrest Farmers Market.

Three hundred free parking spaces are now also available in the San Diego Unified School District parking lot at 4207 Campus Ave. Visitors can park and pick up the Access Hillcrest’s weekend shuttle from the school district lot every 15 minutes. This complimentary shuttle runs in a  loop along Park Boulevard and University Avenue before turning at The Hub on Vermont Street and returning along Cleveland Avenue. Riders can hop on or off at any point along the route!

The shuttle will continue offering its Monday–Friday shuttle service from Arbor Drive through Robinson Avenue from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., promoting transportation for weekday lunches and errands throughout downtown Hillcrest. Both shuttle services promote Hillcrest businesses and offer additional shopping, eating, and errand opportunities to visitors and residents alike.

For more information on Access Hillcrest Shuttle routes, please visit AccessHillcrest.com. As always, Hillcrest visitors and residents can also park for free at the DMV during most evening and weekend hours. The DMV parking lot includes 153 parking spots for visitors and residents looking to shop or visit a neighboring business.

UCPD’s focus is not just parking

 As a result of community collaboration, all of the neighborhoods in the UCPD have received — or are slated to receive — pedestrian safety crosswalks and safety upgrades.

A much-needed crosswalk in Mission Hills was installed across the busy West Washington and Front streets. With additional community input, safety lights were added to provide drivers with greater visibility when the crosswalk is in use.

Currently, two crosswalks are also slated — one in Bankers Hill at Sixth Avenue and Nutmeg Street, and the other in Hillcrest on University Avenue and Front Street.

IRR received a long-requested and sorely-needed traffic calming stop sign at India and Chalmers streets. Business owners and residents joined forces with city staff to make this happen. In addition to their hard work, the approval of Uptown Planners and a city advisory body joined in the call to secure the stop sign. IRR will soon engage in a complete intersection safety redesign including crosswalks at India and Winder streets and pedestrian safety lighting upgrades.

Hillcrest and IRR will both incorporate wayfinding signage into their communities highlighting neighborhood landmarks, and add features such as valet or free parking. Bankers Hill is also installing “Walk the Walk” — unique-to-the-area pedestrian signage.

The UCPD is incorporating over 150 upgraded meter sleeve bike racks throughout Uptown neighborhoods.

The upgraded versions were ordered in response to community outcries

that the basic model did not keep parked bikes safe. There will be 100 silver racks for Bankers Hill, 40 multi-colored racks for Hillcrest, 10 racks in IRR, and six in Mission Hills.

Mission Hills embraced new meter technology last year by installing four smart meters on the 700 block of West Washington and three smart meters on Fort Stockton Drive with another three smart meters installed on Hawk Street.

A parking and alternative transportation study was executed on Reynard Way south of Sutter Street and north of Arroyo Drive. Four Reynard Way stakeholder meetings were held over and above the usual twice-monthly Mission Hills Parking Advisory Committee meetings. Participation from members of all Mission Hills community-based organizations was achieved.

The UCPD is currently working with Chris Ward’s office, SANDAG and Economic Development and Public Works to combine efforts on building a multi-use park/transportation project described as the Normal Street Promenade.

The UCPD has allocated up to $1.8 million in funds for the proposed promenade. These funds have been held in reserve for a long-awaited, community-desired, open-space project that embraces and encourages pedestrian, scooter and bicycle access — while also incorporating additional automobile parking within a community gathering place located on Normal Street in Hillcrest.

The site currently hosts the successful Hillcrest Farmers Market and would be available for future community activities.

This road conversion and public space project are also included in the Community Plan Update. Public review will be facilitated by the Uptown Planners and various Hillcrest-based organizations including the Hillcrest Town Council and Hillcrest Business Association.

UCPD is comprised of an elected volunteer board of 14 members representing residents and businesses in the four geographical areas: Bankers Hill, Hillcrest, International Restaurant Row (IRR) and Mission Hills. Board members are Curtis Allen, Stefan Chilcote, Roy Dahl, Miah Earn, Tom Fox, John Knoll, Cecelia Moreno, Ben Nicholls, Peter Raymond, Linda Saltzman, Susan McNeil Schreyer, Doug Scott, Selina Stockley and Natalie Villegas. The combination of resident and business seats correspond with the meter revenue collected from each of the areas in the parking district.

UCPD staff includes Executive Director, Gerrie Trussell; Bankers Hill Program Manager Chris DeMoville; and Hillcrest Communications Specialist Carolyn Osorio.

The UCPD manages 45 percent of the meter revenue generated in each of the four districts, and acts as an advisory body to the city of San Diego on parking conversions and community requests. It also encourages alternative modes of transportation as well as improvements for pedestrian safety.

“It is incredible to see the effects when neighborhoods communicate in a clear voice and combine efforts with city resources to bring positive changes to the community,”  UCPD Executive Director Gerrie Trussell said, citing her 29 years in community development as the basis for her conclusion.

About UCPD:

Uptown Community Parking District is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization contracted by the city of San Diego to manage parking availability in Uptown using the parking meter revenue generated in each specific community. The four communities managed by UCPD are Bankers Hill, Hillcrest, International Restaurant Row (IRR) and Mission Hills. The UCPD board of directors meet the second Monday of every month at the Joyce Beers Community Center in Hillcrest at 3 p.m. Visit parkuptownsd.org or email Executive Director Gerrie Trussell at [email protected] for information.