Managers for the Streets at Southpoint mall in Durham are threatening to tow customers who are parked in the park-and-ride area.
GoTriangle has learned from transit riders that Southpoint management told customers who use the transit park-and-ride area to catch a bus to work, school and medical appointments that they may park there only Monday through Friday between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. (See a map of the parking area here.)
In a flier placed on windshields this week, Southpoint security warned transit customers that “Park & Ride vehicles not in compliance will be towed.” (See a copy of the flier placed by Southpoint security here.)
GoTriangle believes this threat is in direct violation of the mall’s site plan and the Unified Development Ordinance (Section 10.2.2), which requires Southpoint to mark designated spaces and to put up signs clearly indicating any parking restrictions.
A sign in the lot indicates the general park-and ride area, but Southpoint has not marked any designated spaces or included any time or other restrictions. Designated park-and-ride spaces for transit customers were required as part of the city permit to build the Streets at Southpoint mall.
“We believe that this action is wrong and that it’s an unfair way to treat transit customers who are attempting to park in what should be dedicated spaces for their use,” said GoTriangle General Manager Jeff Mann. “Transit service to this area provides vital access for many who work or shop at the mall or for those who need to connect to other employment centers, schools and medical care.”
Southpoint management has not indicated how it will determine whether a vehicle belongs to a transit customer or mall customer before towing it. It has also not explained how it will work with customers parked in designated park-and-ride spaces who return on a bus that arrives after 6 p.m. or who go to shop or dine in the mall after arriving.
GoTriangle wants to remind transit customers who use routes 800 and 800S that they also may park in 67 free park-and-ride spaces at Renaissance Village in front of the Home Goods store along Renaissance Parkway.
See additional details and maps for the Renaissance Village and Streets at Southpoint park-and-ride areas at gotriangle.org/maps-and-schedules#durham.