Montreal eyes improvements to make parking less painful
New parking strategy would address complicated signage, update pricing and encourage other modes of transit
By Elias Abboud, CBC News Posted: Dec 16, 2015 11:31 AM ET Last Updated: Dec 16, 2015 3:32 PM ET
Montreal is working on a new parking strategy to address complicated signage and to update pricing, while encouraging drivers to leave their cars at home.
City officials have completed a comprehensive study looking at street parking and public parking lots and how they are used, signage and regulations.
- Parking signs in Montreal too confusing, councillor says
- Westmount’s pay-by-plate parking replacing coin meters
The city says its goal is “to offer a balanced parking plan to improve quality of life for citizens and to assure economic vitality, and at the same time, reducing dependence on the automobile and its impact on the environment.”
On Wednesday, Mayor Denis Coderre said sustainable development and quality of life concerns are key to the new parking strategy.
“When you waste time to go around four, five times [looking for parking], it’s not truly good on your humour. So it enhances your own joie de vivre,” he said.
City officials say they want a coherent strategy that will apply to all boroughs across the island.
There are 37 proposed measures, including:
- using dynamic signage to indicate availability of parking in certain areas.
- using sensors to indicate, in real time, availability of parking spaces.
- setting up zones for modes of sustainable transport, such as bicycles.
- encouraging use of Bixi shared bicycles, taxis and car-sharing.
- building bike shelters at metro stations.
- introducing new parking fee structures, such as progressive pricing or pricing based on availability.
- simplifying street signage.
The city wants to hold public consultations on the new parking strategy in the spring of 2016.
Hope, tainted by experience
Driver Isabelle Langlois said she would welcome the proposed measures, but experience has taught her to wonder if they will help. (CBC)
One Montreal driver interviewed by CBC Montreal said the new parking measures could be good news if carried out correctly.
Isabelle Langlois said in her old Plateau–Mont-Royal neighbourhood, she saw measures meant to improve parking only make matters worse
“They were supposed to simplify our lives, but they never did. They only cost me more and restricted my options,” she said.
