FORT COLLINS, Colo. — As Fort Collins continues to grow, city leaders are considering a change: ending free street parking in parts of Old Town to ease congestion and encourage better use of underutilized parking garages.
Street parking in Old Town is free and mainly limited to two hours. According to Eric Keselburg, the city’s senior manager of parking services, this system leads to increased congestion as drivers circle blocks searching for free spots while nearby paid garages remain underused.
The city has been studying the issue for more than a year, working with a consultant and local businesses to collect data and assess parking patterns. That data suggests the current model isn’t working efficiently…