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One in four of those surveyed said they plan on spending more time in downtown restaurants and shops in 2018.

It continues a positive trend for downtown businesses, with 41 percent of respondents saying they visit downtown Tucson more often now than they did three years ago.

Of the 1,934 responses analyzed — two-thirds from people who said they live inside the city limits — how often they go downtown, what attractions bring them back and what concerns they have about the area.

The polling revealed there are still some barriers from merchants connecting with would-be visitors — most importantly, the perception that there’s a lack of convenient, accessible public parking.

About 57 percent of those polled said they would like to see parking improvements downtown, rating the current availability either terrible or below average. Three percent of those polled said parking in the area is excellent.

About 85 percent of those polled said they used their personal car when in the downtown area, compared to other means of transportation.

Councilman Steve Kozachik, whose ward includes downtown Tucson, said that more parking is coming to the area, noting that the opening of the AC Hotel by Marriott downtown on the corner of East Broadway and North Fifth Avenue recently increased the number of parking spots.

The council, he says, has approved plans for two other hotels downtown that also include expanding the existing number of parking spaces.

City Manager Mike Ortega said the city is working with partners downtown to make shifts in policies to accommodate more visitors downtown.

He said that parking was once focused on accommodating downtown employees, while the focus is now to keep parking garages and lots open late on the weekends for Tucsonans who want to come downtown for dinner, shows and other night-time entertainment.

The city also wants to increase ride share programs that would allow people to park outside of the downtown core and use public transportation to get into the area, Ortega said.

When asked about the modern streetcar, 53 percent of those polled said they have never used it, while 17 percent indicated they’ve been on the streetcar a handful of times last year.

About 11 percent of those polled said they use the public transit system less than once a year.

About 42 percent of respondents said they’d like to see more retail choices downtown. And about 15 percent of those surveyed said they currently shop downtown.