Vail — When it comes to parking in Vail, Mayor Dave Chapin says the ski resort town has had two big parking garages doing most of the heavy lifting for years.
“Since 1990 actually was the last time we created new parking spots,” said Chapin.
That’s changing this spring at a spot just north of Interstate 70 near Vail's pedestrian bridge.
“It won’t look like this, it will look better when it’s done,” said Chapin.
When plans were drawn up to start renovating Redstone Elementary School in Vail, Tammy Schiff with Eagle County Schools says the idea was added to also build a new 15 million dollar, 160 space parking structure that could be used by the faculty.
“40 of those spaces will be committed to teachers and staff,” said Schiff.
The rest of the spots will be used by skiers heading to Vail. It’s something Kristin Kenney Williams with Vail Resorts is excited about.
“Anytime we can find new parking to bring on line we’re doing it,” said Williams.
The town will pay $9.2 million, Vail resorts $4.3 million and the Eagle County School District is putting in $1.5 million.
While Vail works to expand their parking garages, Haley Littleton with the Town of Breckenridge says they are looking to start work on their first parking garage.
“We have been working for almost two years now on what a structure would look like – the design, the implementation, location,” said Littleton.
The plan is to put a parking garage on the south end of town in the F-Lot, with work scheduled to begin later this spring.
And while specific details are still being worked out in Vail, Mayor Chapin says they’re moving fast to have their new parking by next season.
“This will be open and ready to go for the next ski season,” said Chapin.
Along with parking, the design has been built to include recreation uses or even housing should Vail need more space down the road.
