The plan is meant to balance the interests of the different groups who use the side of the road, including cyclists, delivery workers and emergency vehicles.
It should also allow for the regulation of changes in parking rates, improvement of city transportation and meeting the specific needs of some neighborhoods, according to a document issued by the city.
Development of the plan began in late 2019, with a telephone survey of a representative sample of Winnipeg’s residents. After that, the city consulted on various areas of business improvement in the city center.
In the next step, two virtual consultations are scheduled for February 4 PM and February 9 AM.
The city will then consult companies and hospitals. The plan will have to be reviewed by the city council in the spring of 2021, and approved, modified, or rejected.
The explanatory document prepared for public consultations indicates that the city has set itself three main goals:
- Ensure that policies promote adequate access to parking spaces for all stakeholders;
- Supporting sustainable transport and encouraging changes in transportation modes [soit le transport actif ou les transports en commun] ;
- Continuous improvements to services.
To do so, the city says it has adopted scenarios that will be implemented as quickly as possible: making street parking spaces free on Saturdays, making unused payment venues free and continuing to follow a pilot car-sharing cooperative program.
Decrease in Winnipeggers satisfaction
A study cited by the city indicates that residents of the Manitoba capital are the least satisfied with the city’s parking services.
In 2020, 58% of respondents said they were at least partially satisfied with services, a decrease of 4% from 2019. By 2018, that number had decreased to 61%.
The City of Winnipeg operates 3,855 paid street parking spaces, 7,119 open parking spaces and 480 covered parking spaces for paid cars.
To participate in city counseling, in French or English, you must register on the Winnipeg City website. (A new window).
