In an attempt to get people who work downtown to use monthly parking rather than parking meters, Greater Sudbury is considering hiking hourly meter parking rates from $1.30 per hour to $2.50.
In addition to raising about $400,000 in extra revenue, the move would address a longstanding issue downtown: the fact that “feeding the meter” all day is cheaper for people who work downtown than renting a monthly space at a parking lot.
“Private-sector parking is approximately 50 per cent higher than public lots on an hourly basis,” says a report headed to the city's finance committee next week.
“This option seeks to price on-street parking at a rate that reflects its convenience relative to alternatives and to assist in diverting demand for these spaces from long-term use to an emphasis on shorter stays.”
In total, the city has 438 single space meters in the downtown core. In March, Susan Thompson, chair of the Downtown Village Development Corp., said businesses downtown struggle to provide parking for workers because of a shortage of spaces in a three-block area around Elgin and Lisgar streets. That leads the workers to feed the meters near where they work, in turn forcing customers who come downtown to have to drive in circles looking for a place to park.
"Then they go in and tell (downtown merchants), 'You know, I love your business but I'm not coming back. Parking is a nightmare downtown,'" Thompson said.
The report headed to the finance committee next week acknowledges that issue.
“While it is difficult to monitor and obtain accurate data, there are concerns that the time-allotted maximums are being exceeded and some on-street parking is being used for all-day parking,” the report said. “All-day parking is more suited to a monthly pass in an off-street lot and on-street parking left available for short-stay customers.”
Parking downtown is a controversial issue, however, and the report warns that “there may be public dismay and concern from the (city) councillors” over approving the increase.
