Because of the increasing congestion downtown Boise faces on weekends, the city has decided to launch a pilot program with the goal of increasing safety for people getting in and out of cars.
Starting Friday, November 2, parking spots on the south side of Main Street between South Capitol Boulevard to 5th Street will be available for taxis, ride sharing companies including Uber and Lyft, and the general public.
Lana Graybeal with Boise’s Office of Community Engagement says the busiest times downtown are in the evenings when there are more people frequenting the businesses there.
"We’ve seen an uptick in congestion, so the goal with this pick-up and drop-off zone is to keep that flow of traffic moving," Graybeal says.
The new drop off and pickup zone will be in place on Fridays and Saturdays from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Graybeal says any vehicles parked in the zone will be towed.
The city tried a smaller-scale pick-up and drop-off zone in April, but limited curbside space in some areas caused traffic congestion.
The new zone will only be used as a pilot program until the end of the year, but if it’s successful, Graybeal says the city could make it permanent.
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