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Durango Transit Center

Friday August 14th the City of Durango hosted the Grand Opening of their new Intermodal Transit Center located at 250 W. 8th St, the 8,000 square foot, $4 million building is the largest of its kind in the Southwest. The Transit Center will be the new home to Durango Transit. The new transit center will act as a regional hub for public transportation, including Durango Transit, Ignacio Road Runner, and Durango Mountain Resort will be running their services through the center making it the regional hub for transportation in the Southwest. The facility is in the process of being LEED certified, and includes passenger amenities like restrooms, information counters, a passenger concourse, and city transit offices. The transit center also houses covered bike parking for approximately 100 bicycles. The transit center was funded with Colorado state transportation dollars and built on land donated from the City of Durango. Groundbreaking ceremony took place August 18, 2008.

The grand opening ceremonies kicked off with a multi-modal parade and pedestrian promenade through town with over 60 participants riding bicycles, a surrey, high wheelers, and driving neighborhood electric vehicles, the parade was followed by the trolley. Transportation Commissioner Steve Parker was the keynote speaker, followed by Mayor Pro-Tem Michael Rendon. The city council members cut the ribbon in front of more than 200 people who attended the opening ceremony.

The Durango transit system served 365,050 riders in 2008, a 25% increase over the previous year, and the city anticipates a similar increase in 2009.

Greyhound

Greyhound service on US 550 (between Salt Lake City, Grand Junction, and Albuquerque) was discontinued on September 7, 2011.
As a result of this reduction in service Greyhound will no longer be serving the Durango Transit Center. 
 

Parking

The PARKING office is located on the main floor of the transit center. Parking tickets can be paid at the main window in the transit center, permits for public lots may also be purchased there.

CODE ENFORCEMENT- Special Events- offices are also located in the Transit Center on the main floor.

Durango Central Business District has more than 1,000 on-street parking spaces, and in excess of 350 permit spaces in off-street parking facilities.

Parking Enforcement Hours:

Parking enforcement is year round 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
There is no parking enforcement on holidays.

On-Street Parking:

24-minute, 2-hour, 3-hour and 10-hour meters provide downtown parking options. Expired meters result in the issuance of parking citations.

Parking in the 500 block of East 2nd Avenue is subject to tire marking. Vehicles must move to a different parking space every two hours. Vehicles in the same parking space for more than two hours will be cited.

Handicapped Parking:

Durango has several designated parking spaces for handicap vehicles. All vehicles parked in these spaces must have a valid handicap plate or placard. These spaces have a two-hour limit. Handicap vehicles remaining in a handicap-designated parking space for more than two hours may be cited. Those with a handicap placard or plate may park for an unlimited time in a non-handicapped metered space without activating the meter.

Paying for Parking

There are three convenient ways to pay for parking in metered spaces:

  • Cash
  • Tokens may be used in any City of Durango parking meter or any Durango Transit loop bus. Tokens may be purchased for $9 per $10 roll at City Hall, 949 E 2nd Ave. Complimentary tokens may be available from downtown merchants.
  • Cash keys provide an alternative to placing coins in parking meters. Simply insert the key into the meter and download the amount of time you wish to park. Cash keys may be purchased at City Hall in increments from $10 to $50. A refundable $20 deposit is required.

Paying a Parking Fine:

You may pay your parking fines at the Transit Center at the main window. A green drop-box is conveniently located outside City Hall, 949 E. 2nd Avenue. You may deposit your citation with your payment at any time in the green drop-box.  Payments may be made in person in City Hall during normal business hours. If you have questions regarding your citation or payment, contact the Parking Division office, located in City Hall.

Durango Boot:

Vehicles having three unpaid parking citations that are over 20 days old will be placed on the boot list. Once a vehicle is booted, all outstanding parking citations plus a $50 boot fee must be paid before the vehicle will be released.

Parking Revenue:

Parking revenue is earmarked for reducing parking congestion in Durango. Revenue from citations is used to subsidize the Durango Transit. The revenue from parking meters supports a Parking Fund, which is intended to finance a future parking structure to further reduce congestion in the downtown area.

Parking Analysis and Feasibility Study:

A Parking Analysis and Feasibility Study has provided several recommendations that are being implemented for parking development. For more information regarding the study contact the Department of General Services at (970) 375-4900. To help alleviate parking congestion, citizens and visitors are encouraged to use alternate forms of transportation. Contact Transit Services for more information.

Parking Zones

Yellow Zones:

The yellow-painted curbs are Durango's commercial loading zones. During the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., these zones are reserved for commercial vehicles that need to quickly load or unload freight. These zones have a 15-minute parking limit. Commercial loading zones are open for free public parking after 5:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and all day Sunday. 

Green Zones:

Curbs painted green are bus and trolley loading zones. These zones must be kept clear at all times. When vehicles block bus/trolley zones, riders are forced to load and unload in driving lanes, making unsafe conditions for both pedestrians and drivers. Please help us keep everyone safe by leaving these zones open.

Blue Zones:

Blue-painted areas are for Handicapped Parking. Durango has several designated parking spaces for handicap vehicles. All vehicles parked in these spaces must have a valid handicap plate or placard. These spaces have a two-hour limit. Handicap vehicles remaining in a handicap-designated parking space for more than two hours may be cited. Those with a handicap placard or plate may park for an unlimited time in a non-handicapped metered space without activating the meter.

Parking Lots And Locations

Parking is by permit only during the day, and free to the public after 5:00 p.m. on weekdays, all day Saturday, Sunday and holidays. Permits may be purchased by the month, semi-annually or annually.

Permits for the Parking Lots may be purchased at City Hall, 949 E 2nd Avenue, on the 20th of each preceding month.

Prices are as follows:

Monthly permits (East Lots 2*, 3, 4 & Car Park Lot*): $15.00

Semi-annual permits (East Lots 2*, 3 & 4): $90.00

*Passes for East Lot 2 and Car Park Lot my only be used in their respective lot.

Code Enforcement

The Code Enforcement division of the City of Durango is responsible for enforcing the codes of the City of Durango. Durango's City Code is available online.

Abandoned Vehicles

To report an abandoned vehicle, contact Code Enforcement at 970-375-4930.

Alcohol Permits

Alcohol Permits are required to serve alcohol in Durango. The City Clerk's office handles requests to serve alcohol.

Animal Complaints

Animal Complaints are handled by La Plata County Animal Control.

Banner Permits

Banner permits information is now available online.

Building Permit(s)

Building permits are required for new construction and remodeling within Durango City Limits. If you are located outside city limits building permits will be issued by La Plata County.

Business License

The City Clerk's office handles business license requests.

Newsrack Permit

Newsrack Permits and information is available here.

Parking

Parking enforcement is handled by the City of Durango Parking Division.

Park Rangers

Park Rangers enforce rules and regulations of the parks and trails in the City of Durango.

Sign Permits

Sign permits are required for all signs. The Planning Department issues all sign permits.

Special Activities Permits

Special events information is now available online.

Trash/Refuse Complaints

For trash/refuse complaints, contact Code Enforcement at 970-375-4930.

Weed Complaints

For weed complaints, contact Code Enforcement at 970-375-4930.

Special Events

Special events permits are required for any activity held in a City-owned street or right-of-way. This includes parades and street closures.

Please review the following list of requirements for special events:

  • Application fee - $75
  • Application - available at City Hall, 949 E. 2nd Ave, or the Service Center, 105 Sawyer Dr. (not available online)
    • Schedule an appointment for a City representative to assist you through the application process at 970-375-4930.
  • Security deposit - the amount of the security deposit is determined by the type of event and the number of people involved.
  • Proof of Insurance - naming the City of Durango as an additional insured in the amounts of $150,000 per person/$600,000 per incident. The certificate must be submitted to the City's Special Events Coordinator before the event.
  • Informed consent waiver to be signed by each participant involved in the event.(Special Events Coordinator will determine if necessary).
  • Petition - if a street closure is not listed in the City's Vending Calendar, a petition informing abutting businesses and residents of the closure shall be circulated by the applicant. The petition shall include business and owner names, whether or not they support the closure, and the business owner's signature. The petition shall be submitted to the Special Events Coordinator before the closure.
  • Parades must travel on the designated parade route. The route begins at College Dr. and Main Ave. It proceeds north on Main Ave. to 12th St. and turns east to return to the staging area to disband. Any proposed changes to the parade route must be approved by the Chief of Police.
    • Traffic control plan - must be submitted with the special events permit application by all parade applicants at the time of application. The plan shall identify personnel assigned to control traffic at intersections, and cleanup of the staging area and parade route.
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