New Parking In West Hartford Center: How To Do It

WEST HARTFORD — Authorities in West Hartford this week were not only touting the new traffic pattern in the center of town but were offering tips on how to park.

The new traffic pattern on LaSalle Road has been well received and will remain one-way

traffic flow northbound, officials said.

Town Manager Matt Hart said the new plan will look very similar to the present traffic pattern
with two new additions — a bike lane on each side of the road and new head-out angled
parking from Ellsworth Road to Arapahoe Road.

Town officials said head-out, angled parking requires the motorist to perform an easy three-step
maneuver:

• Signal a right turn to other drivers
• Pull past the parking spot and stop
• Reverse into the parking spot in just one move

Hart said more than 32 cities use this style of parking. Hart said the theory is, "Head-out angled parking provides a greater field of vision than traditional back-out angled parking, it is safer to load and unload because all sides of the vehicle are shielded from oncoming traffic, and it allows for more parking spaces than parallel parking because its uses less curb space."

The Town will continue to offer free, 15 to 30-minute free parking for curbside pick-up
and take-out orders at 33 locations on LaSalle Road, South Main Street, Farmington
Avenue, Memorial Road and Isham Road.

Parking lot kiosks will continue to allow 30-minute free parking.

Shoppers, diners, clients and employees are being asked to use the municipal lots and parking garages when their stay is longer than 30 minutes.