AUGUSTA, Ga. – As construction along Broad Street continues, residents, business owners, and city officials are grappling with the future of parking in downtown Augusta.

The ongoing construction project has raised concerns about the loss of available parking spaces, particularly for businesses like Fresh Water on Broad Street. Brianne Martin, the owner of the local business, expressed her worries, emphasizing the importance of replacing lost parking with viable alternatives. “If you take away parking, you’ve got to replace it with something. I would hope that’s on their minds because we definitely need it,” Martin said.

In response to growing concerns, city commissioners are seeking a solution. During a meeting on Tuesday, they are expected to vote on a proposal that would direct the Administrator’s Office and traffic engineers to collaborate on a plan that could significantly alter traffic flow downtown. One of the major components of the plan is the proposal to convert Reynolds Street and Ellis Street into one-way streets.

“The one-way streets are to try to figure out how to best utilize how we can acquire more parking. That’s the reason why the one-way streets,” explained Mayor Pro-Tem Wayne Guilfoyle. The hope is that these changes will help improve parking availability by making better use of the existing roadways.

Another aspect of the plan is an increased emphasis on enforcing the two-hour parking limit along Broad Street. However, residents like John Meeks, who lives on Broad Street, have expressed skepticism about how this could be effectively carried out. “How do you force the two-hour limit when you’ve got people who live here 24 hours a day? Good question,” Meeks said.

City officials are looking to the Sheriff’s Office to assist with enforcement of the two-hour limit, though commissioners are also exploring other options. “I think it’s going to become a time when we’re going to have to have some kind of meter system, no different than what they would have in Charleston, Savannah, etc.,” said Guilfoyle, referencing parking meter systems used in other cities.

While some officials see parking meters as a potential solution, local business owners are hesitant. Martin, for one, voiced opposition to the idea of paid parking, suggesting instead that the focus should be on making parking more accessible. “No, I don’t think paid parking is the way to go. I just think they can make parking more available,” she said.

As the Broad Street construction project moves forward, city leaders are working to find a balance between improving traffic flow and meeting the parking needs of both downtown residents and businesses. The outcome of these discussions will play a key role in shaping the future of parking in downtown Augusta.