Design team says downtown parking can accommodate new county center; residents raise convenience concerns

A Tompkins County parking study presented during a public engagement session concluded the downtown street and garage system can accommodate the additional parking needs for the proposed Tompkins County Center of Government, but residents and some county legislators warned convenience and employee parking remain political and operational concerns.

Tim Faulkner, senior transportation manager with Fisher Associates, described on‑street and garage counts the team used to estimate demand around the proposed site. He said the study measured street parking and garage occupancy over two weekdays in late April when universities and the Ithaca school district were in session.

Faulkner reported a total of about 352 on‑street spaces within the closest walking radius defined for the study; roughly 275 of those are two‑hour metered spaces. He said on a typical day there are about 150 to 160 on‑street spaces available at any one time in that area.…