The city of Albuquerque is working to improve parking accessibility in its Downtown area. On September 11, the Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency held an open house to discuss findings from the city's Downtown Parking Study.
A survey conducted from mid-December 2024 through January 2025 gathered input from 369 participants, including 225 unique written comments. Of those surveyed, 74% reported frequenting Downtown regularly, mainly for events, dining, or work.
Most respondents (71.3%) drive to Downtown and split their parking between on-street spaces and parking facilities, with many choosing spots near Central Avenue. While 44.3% said finding parking was easy, safety remains a concern—78.4% of respondents cited worries about safety, particularly at night.
Key points from the study show that only 3% of people always find parking easily in Downtown Albuquerque, while 14.7% often have difficulty. The majority (61.2%) are willing to park several blocks away from their destination rather than prioritize proximity; only 12.1% strongly prefer parking close by, with most instead focused on finding a spot quickly or saving money—54.5% said cost was a top priority.
Safety concerns were highlighted as well: just over one in five (21.6%) always feel safe when parking and walking in the area.
Written comments indicated interest among some participants in redeveloping existing parking lots into housing, businesses, or parks.
Despite there being more than 21,000 available parking spaces Downtown, city officials noted that many residents still find it challenging to locate a spot.
Terri Brunner, director of the city’s Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency, commented on possible solutions: "The city is hoping to make it easier for people to find parking by potentially adding more kiosks or signs."
