City staff propose 24/7 flexible loading zones on University Hill after pilot showed high short-term curb demand

Chris Hagelin, principal project manager for Transportation & Mobility, briefed the University Hill Commercial Area Management Commission on May 6 about a planned expansion of flexible loading zones on University Hill.

Hagelin said the city’s curbside-management update grew from changing delivery and pickup patterns, with more short-duration use by private vehicles, transportation network companies and delivery services. He described a flexible loading zone as "a loading zone that's a 24/7 loading zone" and said that converting time-limited loading zones to always-available short-term access points would better match current demand.

Why it matters: Flexible loading zones are intended to reduce illegal double-parking and unmanaged curb use, make pickups and deliveries more predictable, and free up short-duration curb space for customers and ride-hailing users.

Hagelin reviewed the University Hill pilot (late 2022–2023) that included three pilot flexible loading zones: the west side of 13th Street between Pennsylvania and the Fox Theatre, the south side of College Avenue between 12th and 13th Streets, and the south side of College between 13th and 14th Streets. During that pilot he said roughly 73% of use was private vehicles, 23% transportation network companies and 3% traditional delivery vehicles — and that the spaces were used throughout the day.

Staff proposed this implementation timeline: begin stakeholder outreach and staff proposals in July; finalize proposed zone locations and engagement in August; launch a communication plan and install signage in late September. Hagelin said staff is recommending a 15-minute time limit for the flexible curb spaces based on observed durations during the pilot.

Hagelin also raised enforcement options. Parking enforcement staff face challenges monitoring loading zones throughout the day and night; the city is evaluating a private vendor device (described in the presentation as a camera-equipped bollard, a so-called “safety stick”) that would be deployed at no up-front cost and that would generate revenue for the vendor by sharing fines collected for overstays. Hagelin said staff will pilot enforcement technology and assess data before proposing permanent installations.

Commissioner Trent Bush volunteered to serve on the working group Hagelin proposed; commissioners asked staff to include property and business owners, delivery and TNC representatives, and the Fox Theatre in stakeholder outreach. Hagelin said he expected the hotel and convention area that did not exist during the pilot will require special study.

"We may not get it right the first time," Hagelin said, "but doing it this summer will help us prepare for Sundance."