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Lowell presents parking operations update; council raises concerns about enforcement hours and downtown access
Summary
The city presented a detailed update on parking operations, including garage renovations, EV charging expansion and enforcement numbers. Councilors praised improvements but urged changes to enforcement hours and better education on the 15‑minute free pick‑up option for downtown customers.
The Lowell parking department and private operator LAZ presented an informational report to the City Council covering staffing, revenue, garage renovations and electric vehicle infrastructure.
Parking director Terry Ryan and LAZ general manager Todd Gilbert described ongoing capital work in three municipal garages, including flange and drain repairs, roof and stair repairs, new gates and sealant work at an estimated program cost of several million dollars. Ryan said the projects are weather dependent and that crews are racing to complete much of the work before the summer folk festival.
Ryan said the department now has about six enforcement officers and that, on average, each officer writes about 50 citations per day; the department has collected about 71% of roughly $588,000 in fines so far this year. He also described an option at downtown kiosks that gives customers a free 15-minute session for quick pick-ups and said about 1,500 people per month use the feature.
The city has installed 70 EV charging ports across its garages and lots; recent additions to the early garage were paid in part through a state EVIP grant that covered most costs. Ryan said the department is evaluating fee structures for EV charging and expects to propose pricing rules in the future.
Councilors thanked the department for improvements but raised operational concerns. Several councilors said enforcement that runs into evening hours is discouraging restaurant customers and visitors; some suggested expanded employee parking in garages at discounted rates and other measures to keep street parking available for short visits. Councilors also urged more outreach to downtown businesses to publicize the 15‑minute free pick‑up feature and to consider additional EV chargers on commercial corridors outside the downtown core.
Ryan said digital visitor permitting and expanded prepaid event parking are on the department’s roadmap; he also reported a bid process for elevator studies at the Downs garage and said a design study was expected in the coming months.
