The Herald-Zeitung

Last week, green stripes along the streets in downtown New Braunfels announced the beginning of two-hour parking limits. Enforcement of the new rule hasn’t started, but the lessons have already begun.

Almost immediately, parking spaces opened up along W. San Antonio and S. Seguin.

Yes, tourist season is winding down and it’s possible the timing of the parking clearance is a coincidence. But it’s more likely that the two-hour parking limit has been effective because it changed the habits of residents, not visitors.

Parking time limits are traditionally used as a strategy for controlling the parking behavior of employees.

It forces employees of downtown businesses to find long-term parking.

Parking directly in front of the place of employment is no longer the most convenient option, because the time limit forces the employee to move at regular intervals to avoid ticketing.

This leaves prime parking spaces once taken by wait staff and store clerks available for patrons.

New Braunfels two-hour parking limit accomplished a lot almost immediately.

It is no longer difficult to find a convenient parking space downtown. Customers might now park closer to restaurants and stores without circling blocks, because the best spots have been vacated by the owners and the staff of those restaurants and shops.

Unfortunately for downtown business owners and employees, the two-hour parking limit was put on parking spaces before a long-term parking option was available.

Time limits did not solve the parking problem in New Braunfels’ downtown. The problem simply shifted.

If two-hour parking is to be effective and sustainable, the need for a downtown parking structure is more necessary than ever.

As part of the parking garage plan, long-term parking must be available to downtown business owners.

The county has promised a multi-story, free parking garage to be built as part of its Justice Center project downtown. When that project is built, the parking garage must be large enough to accommodate downtown merchants. Spaces must be set aside for this purpose — for lease at an affordable annual rate or free.

But a date has not been set for ground breaking on a parking garage and could be years away.

In the meantime, the City of New Braunfels must recognize that and a two-hour limit is only one part of a successful downtown parking strategy.

To keep downtown viable, it must be as convenient for merchants to operate there as it is for customers to shop there.