DRCOG grant funds study to convert five downtown garages into mobility hubs; consultants to seek public input

The commission was briefed on a DRCOG‑funded $250,000 planning grant to develop concept plans for converting five downtown garages into mobility hubs. Sam (project lead) told the commission the work will focus on parking utilization analysis, a community needs assessment, financial modeling and design concepts for implementation.

Consultants from Fair & Piers described the hubs as multimodal gateways — locations where people can park and transfer to bike‑share, scooters, buses or walking routes, and where secure bike parking, e‑bike charging, designated pick‑up/drop‑off zones and wayfinding would be integrated. The five garages under study include the garages close to Pearl Street and the downtown transit station; the team said each garage would receive treatments tailored to its physical condition and surrounding uses.

Commissioners asked for concrete use cases and precedents. Consultants pointed to existing transit‑adjacent garages and secure bike‑cage models (for example, a transit station with integrated parking, bike facilities and signage) as comparisons and said the study will gather utilization data to identify times and spaces that could be flexed for multimodal uses.

The project will produce a menu of low‑ and high‑cost options and a staged implementation plan with maintenance and cost estimates. Staff and consultants said they will engage nearby businesses, event producers and the public to surface needs such as secure bike storage, luggage storage for visitors, designated ride‑hail zones and wayfinding to downtown destinations.

No implementation funding was committed at the meeting; staff said the study will provide costed recommendations and potential funding pathways.