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Council approves parking ordinance changes for October, expands Canal Street bus parking and adds short‑term drop‑offs
Summary
The council approved first‑passage amendments to traffic and parking rules that increase Canal Street tour bus parking, add 10‑minute drop‑off zones and adjust Washington Square parking dimensions for October; some no‑right‑turn‑on‑red recommendations remain in committee.
The Salem City Council on June 26 approved, on first passage as amended, changes to parking and bus‑loading regulations intended in part to manage tour buses and peak‑season activity in the downtown core.
Councilors approved increasing the Canal Street bus parking allowance from 225 feet to 525 feet and added 10‑minute drop‑off zones on New Derby Street near Raleigh Plaza and in several Washington Square locations for October. The changes were described as an attempt to give tour buses legal places to drop visitors and to move long‑term parking outside the main downtown area.
“One of the reasons that that's been increased is basically to try to get some of the tour bus parking outside of the the main downtown area,” a councilor said during debate. Councilor Hackworth described committee amendments that removed a proposed 10‑minute drop zone on Bridge Street and adjusted Washington Square West and Washington Square South to 10‑minute parking (October only).
The council adopted the order for first passage as amended by hand vote on committee recommendations and then by formal vote; recorded action carried with no recorded opposition. Separately, recommendations from the Traffic and Parking Commission regarding several no‑right‑turn‑on‑red locations remain under further committee consideration and were held for additional review.
What to expect next: the changes approved for first passage may return for a final vote under the council’s ordinance amendment process. Councilors discussed a future working group led by the mayor’s office to study tour‑bus parking and year‑round management options for larger vehicles.
