Answer Man: Airport cell phone lot MIA? Handicapped parking volunteer enforcers?

Asheville Regional Airport will build a new Cell Phone Parking Lot starting this summer. The airport briefly used this lot across Airport Road as a Cell Phone Lot but had to transition it to use as a shuttle lot.
Asheville Regional Airport will build a new Cell Phone Parking Lot starting this summer. The airport briefly used this lot across Airport Road as a Cell Phone Lot but had to transition it to use as a shuttle lot.

Today’s batch of burning questions, my smart-aleck answers and the real deal:

Question: Hope this rises close to the top of your list of questions. Is there a cell phone lot at the Asheville Regional Airport? There used to be one on the right after passing the terminal, but that is now a gated lot. I haven't seen a sign for a cell phone lot in quite a while. With the increase in travel, this is a great option to having less congestion when picking someone up.

My answer: Just for the record, "rising to the top" of these Answer Man questions involves a complicated formula based on number of questions received, answers squeezed out of sources, and my desperation level to fill the space. So yes, congratulations!

Real answer: Airport spokeswoman Tina Kinsey said the disappearing cellphone lot comes down to the airport getting really busy again, and an ongoing expansion project.

"The airport is growing, and we had to decommission the former Cell Phone Lot to make room for construction expansion and other parking needs," Kinsey said via email. "At this time, there is no Cell Phone Lot."

As we noted in early April, the airport has ambitious expansion plans, which will include issuing bonds in an amount "not-to-exceed" $275 million. That will go toward improvements and expansion, which include a new terminal, according to an Airport Authority public hearing on March 17.

While the airport saw passenger numbers tank when the pandemic hit in 2020, they have since rebounded to higher levels than before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some construction work could start this year. According to the airport authority board, plans include:

  • Expansion and modernization of the existing terminal.

  • Expansion and modernization of the ticket lobby.

  • Transportation Security Administration screening.

  • Baggage claim and concession areas.

  • Improvements to existing infrastructure.

  • Construction of a centralized energy plan.

  • Renovation of the remaining portion of the existing terminal building.

  • Construction of a new air traffic control tower.

Meanwhile, the airport still has a lot of parking.

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"We do have low-cost short term parking in all of our lots at $1 per half hour – to help accommodate the short-term parking needs for our customers," Kinsey said. "The good news is that we are beginning construction on a new Cell Phone Lot soon, and it will be located across the street from the airport next to the Shuttle Lot."

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They'll put out a notice about the opening later this year, Kinsey said. The new cell phone lot will have 54 spaces.

To make all this a little more confusing, the airport at one point designated one of two new lots across Airport Road as a cellphone lot, and even had some signage put up. It was briefly used, but but they realized they needed that lot for regular parking, and it's now a shuttle parking lot for travelers.

"We used the Shuttle Lot as a Cell Phone Lot (beginning summer 2020) until we had to open more paid customer parking (summer 2021)," Kinsey said.

Question: Would it be possible for the police departments in the city of Asheville and Buncombe County to retain volunteers to enforce the handicapped parking regulations? It would most likely pay for itself in fines.

My answer: I can't see anything going wrong with this plan, other than the occasional citizen parking warrior getting run over by an irate parker in a Jazzy scooter.

Real answer: City of Asheville spokeswoman Kim Miller looked into this on the city side, and it turns out the city did have a program along these lines.

"The city of Asheville previously offered a Volunteer ADA Accessible Parking program, in partnership with the Asheville Police Department," Miller said. "The program allowed trained volunteers to issue parking citations for violations of ADA accessible parking."

As with just about everything, the pandemic interfered with the program.

"The program is currently on indefinite hiatus due to COVID and staffing shortages," Miller said, noting that interested volunteers can connect with Parking Services for more information or future program updates. For more information, call 828-259-5792, or send and email to parking@ashevillenc.gov.

By the way, Miller noted that, "According to state law, the the city cannot keep the fines collected for violations of ADA accessible parking. These collected fines are sent to the Buncombe County and Asheville school systems on a monthly basis."

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Aaron Sarver, spokesman for the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office, said civilian enforcement of handicapped parking "is not feasible" for them because of various complications that could arise.

APD spokesman Bill Davis noted that APD and the city do enforce these regulations.

"ADP continues to enforce handicapped parking laws, except for downtown, where the city of Asheville Parking Services enforces parking violations," Davis said. "Thus far in 2022, APD has received 118 calls for service regarding improper parking; 14 of those calls involved handicapped parking."

This is the opinion of John Boyle. To submit a question, contact him at 232-5847 or jboyle@citizen-times.com.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Answer Man: Airport cell phone lot MIA? Handicapped parking enforcers?