Going on right now...

The City has begun installation of the entry/exit gates for City Hall's Tucker eastside circular drive. You will only get in and out and be able to park with a special pass.

Currently, the driveway is blocked with heavy planters on the north and south sides of the steps into City Hall to prevent drive-thru traffic. Each of the parking places is assigned to an elected official, staff, or department head. Reserved parking signs have not deterred others from using the spaces, resulting in the writing of tickets and towing.

The current set-up, however, does not prevent general vehicle traffic from entering and exiting the circular driveway for delivery/pick-up of persons and goods. Persons assigned parking often find themselves blocked from entering/exiting their spots.

The purpose of blocking general vehicle traffic is said to be a matter of public safety. The gates will enhance building security, eliminate vehicles unsafely backing-out onto Tucker, and reduce strain on City Hall's Tucker side infrastructure.

The circular drive suffers from a century of motor vehicle traffic, weight it was never built to support. When City Hall IV was opened in 1898 or 1904 (take your pick), there were far more hitching posts for horses and wagons than parking spaces. The only parking spaces for horseless carriages at City Hall were located on the circular drive and were for the Mayor, House of Delegates President, City Council President, and a few others.