LANCASTER, Pa. — Lancaster resident Robert Wilson faced the city's Traffic Commission on Tuesday, in a plea to get residential permit parking (RPP) on the 100 block of South Ann Street.
It's a familiar picture. They know him and he knows them. He's been fighting for the same request for years.
"Especially if it's in the evening after 5 p.m. it's almost impossible to find a parking space," Wilson said.
Once again, the motion to grant his request for the addition of an RPP on his block was denied.
"This is the area is the location in the city we have heard on the most, during my time on the commission," said commission member Douglas Smith.
"There’s an empty space 50 feet from my home but I have to park 700 feet away," Wilson said. "I don’t have the permit to be able to park 50 feet from my home."
On the 100 block of Ann Street, where Wilson lives, anyone can park. Just around the corner, adjacent to his block is Marshall Street, where there is permit parking.
Officials are collecting data from the community, in hopes of improving the program.
Input from people like Wilson is being considered as the traffic commission looks to expand parking access.
"A lot of times there's not enough parking for the cars our residents have," Lancaster Department of Public Works Deputy Director and City Engineer Cindy McCormick said.
She adds the system can put a strain on people who live close to, but not in, permit zones.
"We hear a lot about how some people that live adjacent to residential parking, that creates issues for them because our current system limits residents to two permits per residence," McCormick said. "So that creates pressures on those adjacent streets as well."
The project is currently in the “Stakeholder Engagement” phase, and changes won't be implemented until later this year at the earliest.
That means more waiting for Wilson.
"I'd like to see it happen tomorrow," he said. "Like get rid of the system personally and everybody has an option to park, you know, everybody has the same options or the same available."
However, as Wilson knows, it won’t happen tomorrow; the public can give input until the end of May with a recommendation expected next month.