Drivers visiting downtown Altona will notice a significant change to parking along 2nd Street NE, as the town has converted existing 90-degree parking stalls to angled parking in an effort to improve safety and traffic movement. According to the Town of Altona, the change affects parking on 2nd Street NE and 3rd Avenue NE and is intended to provide better visibility and a more predictable flow of traffic for motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists. Fewer street stalls, hundreds of nearby spaces The conversion has reduced the number of on-street parking stalls on 2nd Street NE from 87 spaces to 42 spaces. However, town officials note that parking remains readily available throughout the downtown area. Within a 500-foot radius of the east entrance of the mall, there are 250 public off-street parking spaces, 60 on-street parallel parking spaces, and 42 angled parking spaces on 2nd Street NE, for a total of 352 parking spaces. Focus on visibility and safety The town says the move to angled parking is designed to create a safer traffic environment by reducing vehicle movements across traffic lanes, improving sightlines for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians, and supporting a calmer, more predictable flow of traffic. While some motorists may have to travel around the block to find a parking space, officials say the new configuration is intended to improve safety and traffic flow for all road users.