About this Location

Facility Overview

The Jury Duty Parking facility at 1401 M Street in Downtown Bakersfield, California, serves as the primary designated parking facility for citizens summoned to civic service at the Kern County Superior Court. Positioned on the corner of 14th Street and M Street just south of the downtown railroad corridor, this open-air surface lot provides an organized, ground-level parking option specifically arranged to handle the daily morning influx of prospective jurors and courthouse visitors. The lot is laid out with marked single-vehicle parking bays and asphalt lanes that allow for straightforward navigation and maneuvering.

Because the facility is a fully open-air surface lot without low-hanging deck beams, parking garage gates, or overhead concrete clearances, it offers unlimited vertical headroom. Standard sedans, compact hatchbacks, crossover SUVs, and full-size pickup trucks (such as Ford F-150s, Chevrolet Silverados, and Ram 1500s) can enter and park effortlessly. High-roof conversion vans, utility trucks with roof-mounted tool racks, and accessible mobility vans also encounter no vertical clearance restrictions, making it far easier to utilize than traditional tight multi-level parking garages.

Prime Location & Nearby Attractions

Situated in the heart of Downtown Bakersfield's government and civic core, this facility is strategically located near judicial buildings, administrative headquarters, entertainment centers, and dining hubs:

Kern County Superior Court & Jury Services: Located at 1661 L Street and along Truxtun Avenue (1215 and 1415 Truxtun Ave), the court complex and Jury Assembly Room are only 3 to 7 minutes away on foot via the pedestrian bridge or the complimentary juror shuttle service.
Mechanics Bank Arena, Theater and Convention Center: Situated immediately northwest across the rail corridor (about a 5-minute walk), hosting concerts, minor league Bakersfield Condors hockey games, and conventions.
Bakersfield Museum of Art (BMoA): Located 0.4 miles away (an 8-minute walk) at 1031 Truxtun Avenue, offering California art exhibitions and peaceful outdoor sculpture gardens.
Central Park at Mill Creek: Positioned roughly 0.5 miles east, featuring walking trails, a picturesque canal walkway, and open green parkland.
Historic Downtown Dining & The Padre Hotel: A 10-minute stroll north puts visitors into the downtown restaurant district, with options like Woolworth Diner, Jerry’s Pizza, modern bistros, and the historic Padre Hotel on 18th Street.

Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity

Ingress and egress for the 1401 M Street lot are directly accessible via 14th Street and M Street. Downtown Bakersfield is framed by active BNSF and Union Pacific railroad tracks running parallel to Truxtun Avenue. When arriving from northern neighborhoods, drivers are strongly advised to navigate via the Chester Avenue or H Street automotive underpasses rather than street-level crossings to avoid being delayed by passing freight trains. When approaching from the south, east, or west, utilizing California Avenue provides seamless, grade-crossing-free access to M Street.

To cross over to the court buildings on foot, jurors can utilize the dedicated pedestrian overpass located south of Mechanics Bank Arena near N Street, the Chester Avenue underpass, or board the court-funded Jury Shuttle that circulates between the south-of-the-tracks lots and court entrances during morning and afternoon court call hours. Regional transit riders can connect via Golden Empire Transit (GET) bus lines traversing Chester Avenue and California Avenue, while the Bakersfield Amtrak Station is located just half a mile east on Truxtun Avenue. Drivers accessing the city via State Route 99 (SR 99) or State Route 58 (SR 58) can transition smoothly off the California Avenue or Chester Avenue exits.

Facility Amenities & Key Features

Open-Air Surface Parking: Generous surface lot format eliminating height clearance concerns for oversized vehicles, tall SUVs, and work trucks.
Dedicated Juror Shuttle Pickup: On-site access to the rotational Kern County Superior Court shuttle service operating between the lot and courthouse complexes.
Marked Accessible Stalls: Designated ADA-compliant parking spaces positioned closest to pedestrian exits and shuttle waiting areas.
Perimeter Lighting: Overhead pole illumination providing visibility during early morning arrivals and late afternoon departures.
Complimentary Permit Parking: Free of charge for summoned jurors actively displaying their court-issued parking dashboard permit.
Paved and Striped Bays: Smooth asphalt surface with clear directional lanes and parking line delineation.

Ideal For

Kern County Jurors: Summoned jurors reporting to the Metropolitan Division or Jury Services Building seeking verified, validated parking.
Courthouse Visitors & Legal Professionals: Individuals attending civil or criminal court hearings, accessing the Kern County Law Library, or visiting county administration departments.
Downtown Arena & Event Attendees: Drivers seeking convenient off-street surface parking within walking distance of events and shows at the Mechanics Bank Arena and Theater.
Local Commuters: Workers and visitors with business across the downtown administrative district.

Visitor & Driver Tips

Jurors should arrive between 7:00 AM and 7:15 AM to beat morning congestion, as reporting calls frequently begin at 7:30 AM and parking spaces fill up rapidly. Always ensure that the physical juror summons stub or printed dashboard parking permit is clearly visible on your vehicle’s front dash to prevent receiving an administrative parking ticket. If you are summoned for jury service, do not leave your parking space during the midday lunch recess; open stalls become extremely scarce by midday, and most downtown restaurants and lunch spots are within comfortable walking distance. Lastly, remember that court screening requires passing through metal detectors, so leave prohibited items such as utility knives, excessive electronics, and metal utensils locked securely in your vehicle before walking over.