Scenarios presented to improve Beverly Road parking
Mt. Lebanon residents and representatives with Environmental Planning and Design examined possible alterations near Beverly Road during a Dec. 8 meeting to figure out how to improve parking problems in the popular business district.
EPD had 10 different scenarios that residents could consider to improve a parking situation that has flooded into the neighborhood’s streets, especially at the peak between noon and 1 p.m. on weekdays, along with Friday and Saturday nights.
“When we look at those peak hours, it needs to be from a policy perspective,” EPD associate Carolyn Yagle said. “We need to find things that the municipality can consider.”
The most popular suggestion was converting Overlook Drive – between Volta Way and Akron Avenue – to create an additional 14 parking spaces, one in the municipal lot and 13 angled spaces on Overlook Drive.
The other three options being considered are enforcing metered parking on Saturdays in the business corridor that coincide with the weekday schedule, require residential permits and delineate parking spots with paint markings adjacent to residents’ driveways.
These recommendations followed an extensive parking study conducted by EPD that spanned over the last several months after being approved by Mt. Lebanon commissioners in September. The firm focused on spending time on the site during multiple occasions, not only to count cars, but to see how pedestrians were reacting to the parking situation at different times of the day.
“The district isn’t the same all the time,” economic development manager Eric Milliron said when advocating EPD to the commission in September. “They were able to offer the most number of site visits and on-the-ground experience.”
The firm also recently worked with Mt. Lebanon on its uptown strategic and comprehensive plan, along with similar experience in South Side’s East Carson Street.
EPD is planning to continue to look at the feasibility of the recommended projects, including safety and public works concerns. Milliron and EPD is hoping narrow the scope and delineate ideas to present to commissioners at a discussion session sometime in February.
“There is a lot to consider,” Milliron said. “Anytime you have change other things go along with that.”