Almost one year after its implementation, the city of Syracuse has decided to remove the floating parking lane on Waverly Avenue.

Both Comstock Avenue and Waverly Avenue were given floating parking lanes in mid-October 2014 based on recommendations from the 2008 University Hill Bike Network Study and the 2013 Syracuse Bike Plan. The floating parking lane on Waverly Avenue will be removed this year as part of a $300,000 roadwork plan by the Department of Public Works, according to a July 30 Syracuse.com article.

On Dec. 24, 2014, the city of Syracuse changed the floating parking lane on Comstock Avenue to a “deliveries-only” parking lane.

Many complaints were made after the floating parking lane was added to Waverly Avenue near Bird Library in order to create more parking spaces and act as a buffer between cars and bicyclists.

Common Councilor Bob Dougherty said the floating parking lanes “immediately caused frustration.” He added that last October people were already complaining before the floating parking lanes were finished.

“There were enough complaints that the city decided to take them out,” said Dougherty, who is a member of Bike CNY. “I thought they would leave Waverly though.”

The Common Council will vote on whether to borrow money to complete this road project, among several others, on Monday, according to the Syracuse.com article.

Dougherty said he was not sure when the city would implement the road change, but they have not yet re-striped the lanes. He added that it will most likely be done before Labor Day.

“The city of Syracuse needed to give this a chance and they didn’t. We’re going to lose 20 to 30 parking spots because of this and the city was going to meter them so we’re losing revenue as well,” Dougherty said. “To me, it’s a lose-lose-lose situation. I don’t know why they didn’t give this a chance.”

Published on July 30, 2015 at 5:20 pm

Contact Sara: smswann@syr.edu | @saramswann