The Columbus Department of Public Service collected feedback on the idea of expanding High Street parking Thursday night.
The stretch of road between Goodale and Mound streets has long been off-limits to parking. A plan is in the works that could convert bus lanes into more than 100 metered spots.
"This is about parking closer to the business to help restaurants and retail, to help people who do business downtown and to make it more convenient for them to do business," Asst. Dir. Dept. of Public Service Rick Tilton said.
The goal is to boost economic development in the urban core of Columbus.
Resident Ruben Catilla Herrera wonders what the cost would be.
"It started for the premise of vehicles, everything else is an afterthought-- people who ride buses, bikes, even pedestrian," Herrera said.
Herrera, a bike rider, said that more cars in the area could be dangerous.
Questions were also raised about COTA's ability to stay on schedule for transit customers if the busses lose lanes along High Street. City officials said that COTA would keep lanes during rush hours, from 7-9 a.m. and from 4-6 p.m.
A spokesman for the Columbus Department of Public Service said that community feedback was mixed. He said that a final decision could come in the fall.
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