Parking concerns are already surfacing at Vero Beach Regional Airport, just months before JetBlue and American Airlines begin their commercial operations alongside Breeze Airways. City officials report an uptick in complaints regarding the parking situation, particularly in the short-term lot adjacent to the terminal.
City Councilman Aaron Vos received feedback from a regular customer of C.J. Cannon’s restaurant about the time limit enforcement issues in the short-term parking area. “People using the airport’s short-term lot aren’t adhering to the three-hour limit, and it isn’t being enforced,” Vos noted.
Airport Director Todd Scher acknowledged similar frustrations from restaurant patrons who have struggled to find available spots due to the influx of vehicles. Scher and his team are considering police enforcement of the time limit to alleviate the situation. “It’s challenging, because there are more people who want to park than there are close-in spaces,” Scher explained. Currently, the short-term lot has 107 parking spaces, including eight for ADA accessibility, but 30 of those are leased by Avis for its rental car service.
To improve parking availability, Scher is exploring the establishment of an Employees Lot to free up spaces in the short-term lot as the airport prepares for increased activity. “We’re looking into this especially as the airport gets busier,” he mentioned, adding that the decision on location and number of spaces is still to be determined.
The imminent improvements include a project aimed at paving the long-term parking area, although this may take longer than initially anticipated. City staff suggested redesigning the plan to double the lot’s capacity, a possibility Scher is pursuing, despite the uncertainty of funding from the Florida Department of Transportation. “If we can double the number of spaces, we think it’s worthwhile to hit the pause button and explore the redesign,” he stated.
Scher was initially hopeful that the lot would be completed by the year’s end to accommodate the busy season, but the redesign could postpone the project until late spring or summer. In the meantime, efforts to address short-term lot concerns are underway, including enforcing the existing time limits and possibly creating a cell-phone lot for those picking up arriving passengers.
While discussing possible future changes, Scher mentioned that implementing a pay-to-park system has been considered, but he doesn’t anticipate it being necessary in the immediate future. Currently, there are no plans to reduce the time limit on the short-term lot from three hours to two.
The proactive measures planned by airport officials hold the promise of enhancing the parking experience at Vero Beach Regional Airport, ensuring that guests and patrons can access the facility more conveniently as it gears up for the influx of air traffic.