In May the Birmingham Parking Authority (BPA) announced that they would spend this year working on a strategic parking plan to improve access to the city’s downtown area in collaboration with downtown business owners, local nonprofit REV Birmingham, and Birmingham drivers.

While it may be 2024 before the plan is completed, BPA CEO André Davis told the Lede in a Q&A this week that drivers will not have to wait that long to see changes to the city’s parking system-some of which could also help resolve long lasting complaints about predatory towing in the downtown according to Davis.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

The BPA recently announced that they’re working on a new strategic parking plan for the city. I know it’s still in early stages, but could you maybe walk us through some of the goals or objectives that will be included in that?

Yeah so, the BPA has three primary goals with the strategic parking plan. The first goal is to support economic growth in Birmingham, using parking as an economic development tool. By partnering with city leaders and downtown businesses to identify and address needs, we want to maximize use of the parking supply, BPA decks and lots, private lots, and on street parking for the benefit of businesses and venues like the BJCC, Birmingham Museum of Art, the Alabama Theatre, and the many visitors who come to downtown Birmingham.