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User Pay Parking
NEW! - On January 18, 2010, Finance Committee unanimously adopted a recommendation to NOT implement user pay parking on Lonsdale Avenue.
Potential Implementation of User Pay Parking
The City of North Vancouver is currently investigating the implementation of on-street pay parking in the Lonsdale business district.
The Lonsdale commercial area is a vibrant and popular regional town centre and is experiencing a growing competition for a limited number of on-street parking spaces.
Businesses and customers have expressed a desire for more flexibility for length of stay to meet various needs; short drop offs such as dry cleaning, to longer stays for services such as restaurants and beauty salons. The possible introduction of pay parking is designed to maximize the availability of on-street parking, reduce the competition for the spaces, while providing more flexibility through strategic parking management.
Revenue from on-street pay parking could be used to reduce the tax burden and support marketing and business development initiatives. The free parking provides drivers with an opportunity to park and activate the meter for a set amount of free time. This free time could allow parkers to run errands such as pick up a coffee, paying a bill, picking up/dropping off dry cleaning or quick visit to post office.
The City will be working with residents and businesses to develop the implementation plan. The City is currently gathering information. Please stay tuned to this site for upcoming events regarding this implementation plan.
Background
The City enjoys a commercial environment ranging from specialty shops to full service businesses, to institutions, corporate headquarters, government offices, significant and light industry as well as tourist attractions. Most of these services, amenities and attractions are located in the Central and Lower Lonsdale area.
There is increasing pressure on existing transportation resources such as parking, particularly in the Lonsdale area. This is further amplified by the fact that the anticipated growth for the City is in the Central and Lower Lonsdale areas. The planned strategy to enhance the vibrancy of the City's core, through densification and new business, creates a demand for on-street parking.
Parking is one component of transportation that affects the future vision for the City as described in the Official Community Plan. In 2002 and 2006, the City sought to develop an overall City-wide parking plan that would serve as a framework from which to plan for growth. This plan is presently being reviewed to include various on and off street parking options to address an increase in traffic impacting parking opportunities.
User Pay Parking is one option that has been reviewed in the past and has been reintroduced for consideration.
Process
Following a Council report by the City's Manager of Special Services and Projects regarding the handover of the Shipyards Historic Precinct to the City, the concept of implementing user-pay parking was presented to Council. City staff were asked to report back to Council on the possible implementation of user-pay parking not only in the Shipyard's Heritage Precinct but within the entire Lonsdale Business District.
The implementation of user-pay parking within the Lonsdale Business District would be a new source of revenue that would also provide increased turnover of on-street parking that would benefit the business community.
Proposed User Pay Parking Zone Map
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City staff have investigated an on-street pay parking program accepting that on-street parking is not free and should be priced appropriately. Staff's objective of a pay parking initiative is as follows:
- should increase turnover on streets within the Lonsdale Business District
- should be an enterprise operation (self supporting, pay all operational costs)
- revenues should provide significant funding to general revenue and provide funding for initiatives within pay parking zones
- should place a value on street parking and encourage more sustainable ways to travel.
Why User Pay Parking?
User Pay Parking is part of an integrated program to improve user convenience, increase transport system efficiency, prevent future parking problems and generate revenue for new city improvement programs.
User Pay Parking Facts
User Pay Parking FAQ
Open House & Community Meeting
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Open House from 6pm - 7pm
Community Meeting from 7pm - 8:30pm
City Hall Conference Room A/B
The City of North Vancouver hosted an Open House and Community Meeting to discuss the possible implementation of user pay parking along the Lonsdale corridor.
Finance Committee Meeting
Monday, January 18, 2010 at 7:00pm
City Hall Council Chamber, 141 West 14th Street
The Finance Committee Meeting on January 18 included a review of the results of the Community Meeting held on January 7 and a presentation of a proposed implementation plan for user pay parking in the Central and Lower Lonsdale business districts.
User Pay Parking - An Outside Opinion
Mr. Todd Litman is founder and executive director of the Victoria Transport Policy Institute, an independent research organization dedicated to developing innovative solutions to transport challenges. His work helps expand the range of impacts and options considered in transportation decision-making, improve evaluation methods, and make specialized technical concepts accessible to a larger audience. His research is used worldwide in transport planning and policy analysis.
Mr. Litman is an authority in the area of parking management. He has authored several journal articles, conference papers, published reports and books on the subject of parking management strategies and best practices. Mr. Litman's analysis of impacts and options regarding user pay parking in the City will be made available shortly.
Public Parking Availability
City of North Vancouver lots and privately owned parking lots are located throughout the area. See map for locations.
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Parking Resources & Related Links
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