Princeton pivots parking trial; elects for 30 degree stalls instead of parallel

Parking study on Main Street will instead test 30 degree parking stalls

Jay Schneider, owner of the Apollo Theater in Princeton, drives by the Appolo Theatre during a special escort as supporters wave to him on Main Street in Princeton on Thursday April 29, 2021. Schneider was involved in a sledding accident in January. After over four months of rehabilitation, and multiple surgeries  Schneider was able to return home.

Princeton Mayor Joel Quiram said Monday the city’s planned parking study on South Main Street will go forward, but will now proceed with 30-degree parking stalls and not parallel parking options.

Because of negative feedback from Princeton residents, much of it on social media, Quiram said the city will go forward with a new parking trial aimed at increased safety and visibility on South Main Street, but will forgo the parallel parking spaces it originally planned to test.

The trial was slated to run for 30 days in beginning mid-July, however Quiram said the street department may bump up the date if scheduling allows.

Quiram said the feedback largely indicated residents opposed parallel parking because of the inability of many people to parallel park, as well as concerns about potential future bicycle traffic on Main Street impairing visibility.

Additionally, he added there were concerns about the loss of up to 40% of parking stalls on the south end if parking was converted to parallel, forcing downtown shoppers to park in lots behind businesses.

The conversion to 30-degree parking will now be tested from Columbus Street to the courthouse square.