The Senate State Affairs Committee easily approved a resolution this morning to build a new multi-level state parking garage, using savings from refinancing of several existing state bonds at lower interest rates; the House-passed measure now moves to the full Senate. “It's an opportunity to really fix the parking problem in the Capitol Mall for many years to come,” said Legislative Services Director Jeff Youtz.

He noted that when the Capitol was renovated and expanded, parking never was addressed – though thousands more people now flock to hearings during the legislative session each year in big new hearing rooms. In combination with a re-examination of all parking policies in the Capitol Mall, Youtz said of the new garage, “It has the potential to really triple public parking, which really is a plus for the Capitol Mall.”

The measure doesn't specify the location, leaving that to state experts, but one likely spot is an existing large surface parking lot just north of the Len B. Jordan Building, on the second block north of the Capitol.