Politics & Government

Does Solano Avenue Need More Accessible Parking?

The city has identified 16 spaces that could easily be converted into parking for people who have difficulty walking.

Out of the 234 parking spaces between San Pablo and Ventura avenues on Solano, only two are accessible for people who have difficulty walking. If that stretch of Solano Avenue were to follow the Americans with Disabilities Act’s guidelines for off-street parking, between five and 11 spots would need to be repainted blue and reserved for people with disabled placards.

While it’s been discussed from time to time, there are no plans now to bring on-street parking rules into line with off-street parking rules, according to a report from Albany’s Traffic and Safety Commission, which was scheduled to discuss the matter of accessible parking on Solano Avenue at its meeting Thursday night.

Still, the city has identified 16 spaces near a ramp or a curb that could be turned into an accessible parking spot. The report noted that all blocks are not equal in terms of parking spaces, some have more than 20, others have less than 10. Any plan to create more accessible parking would have to take these differences into account, according to the report.

What do you think? Does Solano Avenue need more accessible parking?


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here