Parking Commission: Free Parking, Sinkholes and Disabled Placards

The end of free parking at the Bedford structure, sinkhole worries and the confiscation of disabled placards were some issues discussed during the Parking and Transportation meeting Thursday.

• The Beverly Hills Traffic and Parking Commission on Thursday approved a measure to end one hour of free parking at the city's parking structure at 461 N. Bedford Dr. The main factors in the decision are the structure's tendency to fill up multiple times daily, the belief that the majority of vehicles using it are there to visit the area's medical offices and the availability of parking at another city lot just a block East on Camden Drive. If approved by City Council, all drivers who use the Bedford parking lot will be charged $2 for the first hour and $3 for each half hour after that. The Camden parking lot will still offer free parking for an hour. 

• The Commission discussed installing a dedicated bus lane on Wilshire. It was decided the city will allow the City of Los Angeles to try out dedicated bus lanes first. If they are successful, the commission will consider it further. 

• Beverly Hills residents are concerned about the possibility of tunneling underneath the city during construction of for a Metro subway. Commissioner Andy Licht asked if these concerns were valid, and Commission Chair Ira Friedman reminded him of the sinkhole in Hollywood during construction of the Red Line in 1995. 

• In June, 17 disabled parking placards were confiscated. The commission considered it as a "very busy month" for this issue.

• Parking ticket issuances are down 10 percent from last year. One of the factors for this, the commission suggested, is the installation of parking meters that take credit cards. It has increased compliance because drivers no longer have to look for exact change.