Bumpy road for parking plan

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This article was published 01/03/2012 (5146 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Checkpoints, strict parking passes and restricted access to campus may be part of the new Investors Group Field transportation plan rolled out at two open houses on Wednesday.

Neighbourhood residents and University of Manitoba staff and students raised concerns about the proposed stadium parking plan, such as that it breaches the faculty’s collective agreement.

“It’s going to be a real problem. Faculty work at all hours, on weekends, especially with labs, so they need to get in,” said Cam Morrill, president of the University of Manitoba Faculty Association.

Restricting faculty parking may be a breach of contract, since faculty who pay for a spot should have access to it 24 hours a day, according to the agreement, Morrill said.

The proposed plan, devised by the city, the university and the Winnipeg Football Club, divides on-campus parking on game days between university-pass holders and Bombers parking-pass holders.

If staff or students are parked in a lot designated for Bombers fans, they have to leave 90 minutes before the game starts.

Checkpoints at university entrances will make sure only parking-pass holders have access to campus.

Pass-holders can only enter via certain roads depending on where their lot is located.

Anyone can still get on campus by bus, or by biking or walking.

Students who live on campus are also concerned. Many park in lots other than the ones designated for staff and students, but since they live on campus, they have nowhere else to park, residents said.

There should have been more consulting with students to work out these bumps, said Bonnie Schott, a fourth-year student who lives on campus.

“We have first-hand experience using the parking stalls and how things work here in residence,” she said.

Alan Simms, associate vice-president of administration, said there is still some flexibility in the plan and they will work out the kinks with students and staff.

“We might not be able to make everyone happy, but we certainly can reasonably accommodate some of the bigger concerns,” he said.

“After every game we’ll assess, and we have to be flexible in terms of what an issue was during a game and working toward a solution.”

Residents also got a first look at the restrictions on neighbouring streets.

“We want to restrict residential parking in terms of attendees going to the new stadium,” said John Wintrup, principal planner for the city.

As it stands, there is no parking in two areas around the university. Residents in these areas must acquire a permit to park on the street during game time. There is currently a limit of one permit per household.

“Our concern is that if we have people over and we only have one permit per residence, what do we do?” said resident Bob Guse.

“It’s frustrating.”

Wintrup added the neighbourhood restrictions aren’t “set in stone” and may change depending on what residents say or how the first few games roll out in terms of parking.

The concerns raised at the open houses will be taken into account for the final transportation plan, Wintrup said.

There are currently nine games scheduled for the new stadium this year. Four are weekend games, while four out of the five weekday games are scheduled for the summer.

Another open house will be held on Saturday at Canad Inns Fort Garry between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

jennifer.ford@freepress.mb.ca

 

What you need to know

What stadium-goers need to know:

If you don’t have a Bombers parking pass, you can’t park or enter University of Manitoba grounds on game days. Checkpoints at each entrance will make sure you have the right pass.

If you have a parking pass, you can only access the university via Chancellor Matheson Road or University Crescent, depending on the location of your designated lot.

You can get to the stadium by walking, taking the bus or biking.

 

What university staff and students need to know:

Starting a few hours before the game, checkpoints will be in place at the roads entering the university, allowing only parking permit-holders to enter.

During game time, 1,500 spots will be set aside for university parking in lots A, L and B. Ninety minutes before the game, students and staff in any other parking lots will have to leave.

U of M students and staff will only be able to access the university via King’s Drive during games. Checkpoints will enforce this.

The university will still be accessible via buses, walking or biking.

 

What residents need to know:

The restricted parking zone is between Silverstone Avenue and the university and between Thatcher Drive and Bishop Grandin Boulevard.

There is no parking from noon until 10 p.m. on game days in these areas. “No parking” signs with changeable dates will show game dates. The city parking authority will change the date on these parking signs after each game.

If you live in the restricted parking area, you’re allowed one parking pass per household to be able to park on the street during games. This pass has to be registered to a licence plate number.