Fargo consultants recommend RFP, consolidated management to modernize downtown parking

Consultants presented results of a downtown parking study to the City of Fargo Commission and recommended issuing a request for proposals (RFP) to modernize management of ramps, lots and on‑street parking and to consolidate oversight within city government. Nicole Crutchfield, City of Fargo planning director, opened the meeting and introduced the work the consultants have done.

The study team from KLJ and Kimley‑Horn reported a May 22 snapshot of downtown supply and demand that shows roughly 4,900 public parking spaces in the Central Business District and an average daytime utilization near 40 percent during the 9 a.m.–4 p.m. window, with peak hourly demand at noon. “When we think about parking management, we think about the positive outcomes that impact, aligned city goals around providing reliable parking availability, supporting economic development, improving safety, and mitigating congestion,” said Casey McNames, KLJ.

The consultants said industry targets are typically about 60 percent utilization for on‑street spaces (to preserve turnover) and about 90 percent for structured parking. They told commissioners that Fargo’s recent investments in ramps have left the downtown with a surplus in many hours and locations, and that surplus can be used to shift longer‑term parking off the curb and support downtown redevelopment.

To operationalize that shift, the consultants…