Park metered parking at night, critics say

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This article was published 17/01/2015 (4274 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

If Winnipeggers had their way, the meter would be running on a proposal to charge for downtown parking at night. Fast.

“I think it might dissuade people from going downtown,” said Therasa Hunt. “It’s expensive enough. We need to make downtown more attractive.”

The Winnipeg Parking Authority is asking city council for authority to charge $2 per hour for parking after 5:30 p.m. The proposal includes 500 parking meters in the heart of Winnipeg’s downtown district, surrounding the MTS Centre, Millennium Library and RBC Convention Centre.

The area under the proposal stretches from Ellice Avenue, between Hargrave Street and Smith Street, then spreads out down to Broadway, between Smith and Kennedy streets (see Blippar map).

According to the parking authority report, council had approved evening parking charges around the MTS Centre in 2012 but put that on hold, in part because it was concerned it would hurt attendance at Winnipeg Jets games.

The new report, however, includes more than double the original area.

The PA contends charging for parking after hours is aimed at motorists who occupy the same parking spot all night.

But that’s a hard sell to Winnipeggers who spend most of their working day — and a few nights — downtown each week.

For example, Hunt works downtown as a graphic designer with Manitoba Public Insurance and, on Friday night, was leaving the King’s Head Pub with colleague Jane Olijnek. Both usually bus to work, but they also question any proposal that might inhibit what is already considered to be a deserted downtown during evening hours.

Olijnek said people who wanted to spend time in restaurants and bars would be too preoccupied with running outdoors, especially in January, to plug a meter every hour.

“It was nice knowing that after 5:30 (p.m.) we didn’t have to worry,” Olijnek said. “Paying during the day is enough.”

Justin Landry also works downtown, at a studio that develops mobile games, which can lead to a lot of all-night brainstorming. “We work late a lot,” he said. “Having to pay for parking would be crazy. That would really suck.”

Landry also takes the bus, but most of his co-workers move their cars to street parking after 5:30 p.m.

Colleague Jamie Marshall conceded the prospect of paying extra is not prohibitive, but not welcome, either. “I could shell out six more bucks,” he said. “But I can’t be happy about it. We get taxed enough as it is.”

Stefano Grande, executive director of Downtown Winnipeg BIZ, said businesses have been pushing for paid night parking in the entertainment district — in particular for when the Jets host games — for at least two years.

“The nighttime economy is coming along nicely,” Grande said. “The turnover of cars just isn’t there anymore. We’re hearing from our restaurant owners that their customers have trouble finding parking.”

Grande noted there are 16,000 people residing downtown. There are 3,700 meters. When the Jets play or there’s an event at the concert hall or convention centre, that can mean an influx of more than 20,000 people.

By charging for parking meters at night, Grande said some visitors might be encouraged to use a parkade or parking lot instead. Or even use public transportation. “It’s a good challenge to have,” Grande said. “We’re growing up as a downtown. Pricing is one way of managing the demand.”

However, Krista Michie, an event co-ordinator at Red River College, remembers there were no parking meters when the school opened its downtown location at the turn of the century. The cost of parking for employees has tripled in that time, she said.

A proposal that would only add to parking costs isn’t necessary, Michie argued. “We want to draw people to the downtown,” she said. “That’s not going to do it. Where is the revenue going? Why? It’s stupid.”

The report will be considered at Monday’s meeting of the alternative services delivery committee, but will still need to be approved by city council.

randy.turner@freepress.mb.ca