MILLEDGEVILLE — A parking study focusing on downtown Milledgeville is nearing completion, and the agency conducting the research wants public input.

Milledgeville Mainstreet director Belinda Washlesky said the area of focus has been determined and accurately surveyed. The Middle Georgia Regional Development Commission will take public input before finalizing its findings.

“The study was conducted in areas around downtown merchants in the 100 blocks of Hancock, Wayne and Wilkinson streets,” Washlesky said. “They counted parking space vacancy rates. I made sure that the college students weren’t on any kind of break or holiday when the study was done.”

In addition to counting spaces to identify parking patterns, the group identified public parking spaces all over downtown. Washlesky said little known parking lots dot downtown and that space is usually available.

“I’ve wanted to have T-shirts printed that read ‘Milledgeville does not have a parking problem. Milledgeville has a walking problem,’” she said.

Washlesky said that in addition to the spaces along the downtown streets, lots are located on East Hancock Street next to the Golden Pantry convenience store, next to the post office, next to Sacred Heart Catholic Church and near BB&T.

“There is a lot behind city hall and some spaces are marked for the library, some for J.C. Grant Co. and some are marked for city hall,” she said. “There are spaces in that lot for public parking.”

Washlesky said that some downtown merchants are frustrated with the parking situation downtown and that the study is an effort to relieve some of the problem. In addition to the study, she said Mainstreet and city leaders have developed a few ideas of their own.

“I stood outside with business owner David Simmons just watching,” Washlesky said. “It’s obvious that merchants have had trouble getting customers to their doors because of parking.”

One possible solution, Washlesky said, is the addition of four express parking spaces on each block with short time limits. The express spots would allow customers to park and go into businesses for quick transactions like take-out or single-item purchases.

The study was first commissioned by Mainstreet in 2008. When Washlesky was hired in early 2009, the group decided to move forward with the study. Because of the relationship between the city and the development agency, the commission was chosen to conduct the study. Washlesky consulted outside firms that placed the value of a downtown parking study at $10,000. Mainstreet is paying $2,000 out of proceeds from the annual Deep Roots Festival.

As part of the overall downtown parking fix, Washlesky hopes a new brochure will help educate people on where parking is available. The brochure would show on a downtown map where parking is available.

She said she hopes to be able to secure additional, aesthetically pleasing signage that will help to point out parking areas. The brochures would be available in downtown businesses, city hall’s business license office and would be given to incoming college students at orientation sessions.

Also included in the study is an evaluation of the fees charged to people who park illegally downtown.

“The commission has been studying our fee structure and comparing it with other cities,” she said.

Some relief for streetside parking may come soon. The second phase of Streetscape is expected to add some spaces in downtown.

“Upon the completion of the second phase of Streetscape, Wayne Street is expected to have a net gain of parking spaces,” Washlesky said.

A public hearing announcing the start date of Streetscape will be held Thursday, June 3, at 8:30 a.m. at city hall. The project is slated to begin Monday, June 7.

“They [the contractors] are hoping to complete it in three months,” Washlesky said. “We do realize that is a really stringent schedule but it is definitely going to be finished before the Deep Roots Festival.”

A meeting to garner public input into the parking study will also be held Thursday, June 3, but at 5:30 p.m. in the city council chambers at Milledgeville City Hall.

The final results of the parking study should be ready next month and will be presented as a formal recommendation to Mainstreet and the city.