City delays parking changes tied to large College Avenue project
City officials in Fort Collins announced Tuesday that planned changes to downtown parking will be delayed after a major infrastructure project on College Avenue was pushed back by a year. The move is likely to postpone any permanent parking policy changes, such as paid on-street parking, until early 2029, city staff and City Council members said.
"Any future changes to parking in downtown Fort Collins will be delayed at least a year due to the delay of a big infrastructure project on College Avenue."
The resurfacing and water-main replacement project was originally slated for early 2027 on College Avenue between Mulberry Street and Laporte Avenue. New federal guidelines requiring upgrades to pedestrian infrastructure to meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards have forced the city to revise its plans, delaying the start of construction to early 2028. Because the city planned a buffer period between construction and any parking changes to reduce business disruption, that scheduling shift moves the likely implementation of permanent parking changes to about early 2029.
Why the delay matters
The College Avenue project combines a water-line replacement with a full road resurfacing. City staff had intended to create a gap between the heavy construction and any pilot or permanent changes to parking so downtown merchants would not face overlapping disruptions.
Officials now say they may still pursue a temporary parking pilot program before making long-term decisions, but details of any pilot — including duration, locations and whether it would include paid curbside parking — have not been finalized. The city described the pilot as a way to study impacts on businesses and drivers before instituting permanent changes.
- Scope of infrastructure work: water main replacement and road resurfacing on College Avenue from Mulberry to Laporte.
- New federal requirement: ADA-related pedestrian upgrades tied to resurfacing work.
- Resulting schedule: construction moved from early 2027 to early 2028; parking changes now likely in early 2029.
Local implications and next steps
Downtown business owners, residents and visitors have been watching the parking discussions closely. City staff and council members have debated whether paid on-street parking would help manage turnover and increase access for shoppers and diners, or whether it would create an added burden for small businesses and regular downtown patrons.
By tying the timing of parking changes to the College Avenue work and explicitly buffering the two initiatives, the city aims to limit economic harm to merchants that could result from simultaneous construction and parking regulation changes. Still, some downtown stakeholders have urged the city to move cautiously and to provide clear communication about pilots and timeline changes.
City officials also emphasized that federally driven ADA upgrades are not optional: the new rules require pedestrian improvements as part of resurfacing projects. That regulatory change is the proximate cause of the project delay, according to city staff.
Timeline at a glance
| Item | Original schedule | Revised schedule |
|---|---|---|
| College Avenue water-line replacement & resurfacing | Early 2027 | Early 2028 |
| Potential permanent downtown parking changes | About one year after construction | Likely early 2029 |
City leaders also left open the possibility that a short-term pilot could be launched prior to any permanent policy change. The pilot, they said, would allow staff to gather data and community feedback to help inform final decisions. The city has not released specifics on the pilot’s scope, locations or timing.
For Fort Collins residents and downtown business owners, the delay reshuffles planning horizons. Merchants who anticipated an earlier start to paid parking or other curbside changes now have more time to prepare; commuters and visitors can expect the status quo for on-street parking to remain for at least another two years unless a temporary pilot is approved.
The city’s next public discussions are expected during upcoming City Council meetings and transportation planning sessions, where staff will present updated timelines and, if available, proposals for any pilot program.
