In the battle over how to keep business coming to Fourth Street during trolley construction, Santa Ana officials have met business owners halfway, temporarily slashing downtown parking charges.
Hard hit by the OC Streetcar construction that’s happening just outside their restaurants and shops, Santa Ana merchants staged a demonstration last Wednesday, Feb. 9, that shut down work for the day.
That event, in turn, has prompted some response from the city.
Starting Monday, Feb. 14, parking at four downtown structures will be free from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. During weekends, and weeknights from 5 p.m. to 7 a.m., the parking rate will remain $1.50 per hour, with the first hour free. Two of the garages are located on 3rd Street and two on 5th Street. In total, they offer 1,940 spaces.
“I’m happy that the city is starting to listen to us,” said Ana Laura Padilla, who owns two 4th Street businesses. “But we are going to keep pushing for more help.”
The business owners complain that the four-year transportation project, which reached their front yard two weeks ago, deters clientele from showing up. Some said their sales have dropped by 50%.
Laying railway on the commercial stretch of the historic street will take about seven months, according to the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA).
Scheduled for completion in 2024, the streetcar will run 4.1 miles between business centers in Santa Ana and Garden Grove. The goal of is to boost both local economies while reducing automobile traffic.
In addition to the free parking, downtown merchants want help with signage that will tell customers their establishments remain open even when “Road Closed” notices are in effect.
Merchants also want construction to be completed sooner, even if it requires OCTA to hire workers for two eight-hour shifts a day rather than one. Merchants also would like financial relief from the county and the city for the business they lose.
While the free parking will help Padilla’s tax preparation service, Themis Multiservices, she said it won’t be as helpful for her restaurant, Perla Mexican Cuisine.
“My restaurant gets the most customers at night and on weekends,” Padilla said.
Delilah Snell, owner of Alta Baja Market and cafe, said her place, too, depends on weekend traffic. “Why not just make parking free all the time?” she said.
Santa Ana Mayor Vicente Sarmiento doesn’t rule out that suggestion, or others.
“We hope this is the first step to something more comprehensive,” Sarmiento said. “It’s not one and done.”
Originally, the OC Streetcar was supposed to be up and running this year. However, the project hit some snags – including discovery of contaminated soil and unmarked utilities – that delayed its opening and increased its projected cost to $509 million.
Sarmiento said officials from OCTA and the county will address the Santa Ana City Council at its meeting Tuesday night, Feb. 15, to share plans for mitigating business losses. Discussions might include financial grants from the county and city.
“It’s not always the case to see three agencies coming together and responding so quickly,” Sarmiento said. “We’re all chipping in to do whatever is possible.”