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Commission opens review of curb‑parking rules, seeks consistent policy on painted curbs
Summary
Staff told the Morgantown Traffic Commission that existing written guidance on curb parking is limited and largely dated; commissioners discussed minimum street widths, paint conventions (yellow vs. blue), enforcement constraints and agreed to form a small subcommittee to develop a clearer policy and implementation plan.
The Morgantown Traffic Commission on Tuesday opened a review of how the city marks and enforces curb parking, citing aging guidance and ad hoc practices that leave enforcement and residents unclear about where parking is allowed.
Staff engineer Drew Jacklin told the commission that the most recent formal guidance on curb restrictions dates to the early 1990s and that practice has drifted: "It has not been translated into a policy that we currently have adopted, right, that is easy to communicate, and easy to understand," he said during the meeting. Commissioners discussed paint colors, minimum widths and enforcement responsibilities.
Why it matters: curb‑parking rules affect daily access to homes and driveways, emergency vehicle circulation and the effective use of limited public right‑of‑way. Ambiguous or inconsistent markings can produce complaints, enforcement delays and uneven outcomes for neighbors.
Jacklin outlined the practical items that currently inform decisions: minimum street width thresholds (historically 26 feet for a parking lane plus two travel lanes, older city practice references 22 feet or 20 feet in places), driveway access, emergency vehicle clearance, sight lines at curves and intersections, and special uses such as fire hydrants or loading zones. He observed that vehicle dimensions and travel patterns have changed since the guidance was last affirmed in 1994.
Commissioners noted examples where pavement markings had been lost after repaving, where unpainted curbs are treated as de facto no‑parking by drivers, and where enforcement agencies defer action if restrictions are not marked. One commissioner summarized common complaints to staff as: "I can't get in and out of my driveway; please restrict this parking."
The commission debated whether to mark all allowable parking locations (mark what is allowed) or to continue marking only prohibited areas (mark what is not allowed). Jacklin said the city lacks a simple, predictable standard and proposed developing one. The traffic commission endorsed forming a subcommittee to work with staff on criteria and a data‑driven approach to mapping curb restrictions; commissioners volunteered to serve.
Enforcement and data needs were prominent in the discussion. Commissioners asked staff to review 3‑1‑1 complaint records and GIS street‑width data to identify problem corridors. Staff said coordination with the police and Parking Authority would be necessary because officers typically enforce parking complaints but may prioritize other calls.
The commission did not adopt a final policy but approved, by voice, forming a subcommittee to draft recommended criteria, collect data and return with proposals for paint conventions, marking priorities and implementation steps.
