Posted on Tue, Nov. 17, 2009

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City Council to vote on arena parking sign plan

BY BRENT D. WISTROM

The Wichita Eagle

City and county government are assembling a plan to direct people to parking lots near Intrust Bank Arena.

And, soon, they may be deciding where to put four or five LED signs at parking lot entrances that would show drivers how many spots remain and when buses are coming to shuttle people to the arena.

Wichita City Council members this morning will vote whether to start the parking lot sign process, which would eventually cost about $400,000 in federal money and $100,000 of city tax dollars.

The signs would use sensors to count vehicles that enter and exit to determine how many spots are available, and would correspond with computer systems on buses to give people accurate estimates of when shuttles will arrive.

It's unclear which lots they would be placed at, though they will have to be at lots serviced by the Q-Line, which is the free downtown trolley service.

That's because the federal money that would pay for the signs is intended to promote public transit.

If the council approves the idea today, the city will conduct a study to find which lots to place signs at, then apply for federal grants.

The fastest the signs would be up would be next spring or early summer, said Michael Vinson, director of the city's transit department.

Reach Brent D. Wistrom at 316-268-6228 or bwistrom@wichitaeagle.com.

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