Number of parking permits in La Crosse might be limited

For every driver in La Crosse who complains that there’s never enough parking space downtown, city leaders point out that the ramps have many spaces available for sale.

A report presented Monday to the Board of Public Works suggested more than 2,000 permits for ramp parking are available. La Crosse parking coordinator Greg Elsen said that number is deceptive.

At the Main Street parking ramp, “we say that there’s 385 total permits available to sell,” Elsen said. “We’ve sold 382, so there’s like three available in that ramp.”

Elsen told the board that spaces in the Pine Street ramp are almost full, as well.

More spaces are open at the La Crosse Center and Market Square ramps, depending on how many employees are brought back to work in person at downtown businesses.