Free Main Street parking approved through end of year in Keene

Drivers will remain subject to the two-hour time cap, and they must continue entering vehicle information at the parking kiosks.

City councilors on Thursday approved a temporary waiver of parking charges on Main Street downtown, with the change taking effect immediately and lasting through the end of the calendar year.

The vote came after downtown merchants argued that the ongoing infrastructure work has reduced traffic and hurt sales, and that eliminating parking fees could help draw people back to the area. The measure passed 12-2, with Councilors Laura Tobin and Bobby Williams voting no.

The free-parking period still comes with limits. Drivers will remain subject to the two-hour time cap, and they must continue entering vehicle information at the parking kiosks, City Manager Elizabeth Ferland said.

Councilor Mitch Greenwald successfully pushed to extend the relief through the end of the year rather than only until the end of the construction season, which had been the original request. He said Main Street businesses are coping with less traffic and disruption from the downtown project, and some are having a hard time staying open.

Councilor Tom Powers also supported the plan, saying the construction project affects everyone who comes downtown.

Opponents raised concerns about lost revenue and whether the change would actually help. Williams argued that the city should not give up parking income that could help offset the cost of the project. Tobin said the city should be trying to bring more people downtown, not create added competition for parking in an area already dealing with heavy vehicle congestion. She also warned that the parking fund helps cover expenses such as paving city lots and is one of the few revenue sources coming from outside Keene.

According to figures Ferland presented, the city could lose about $65,000 in meter and ticket revenue from September through November if free parking is expanded across downtown. If the policy stayed in place through the construction period in the active zone, the projected shortfall could reach $1 million.

Councilors Laura Ruttle Miller and Jacob Favolise said they want to see whether the experiment works before considering it as a longer-term option.

Ed Haas asked whether the free-parking area should also include businesses on Washington, Roxbury and West streets that are affected by the work. Ferland said the city’s estimates were based on Main Street because that is where construction is centered.

The council also sent to committee a separate request from Councilor Phil Jones involving next month’s Pumpkin Festival and possible foot traffic access to Central Square. Ferland said the city is planning to be more flexible with downtown event layouts during construction, though the square’s power pedestals can no longer be used.

The downtown infrastructure project is expected to cost $28 million and continue for three years.