Should move everyone to the malls for shopping
Fitzroy Parkade has 100 people waiting for monthly parking photo - Osco Construction
Charlottetown, PEI parking meter rates are doubling to $1 per hour to drive people to the parkades. The parkades have waiting lists so downtown workers can expect to be paying more at the meter or the new $15 parking fine.
That makes sense after the City approved new buildings like the Atlantic Technology Centre, Jean Canfield Federal Building and Homburg Hotel without any underground parking.
“A study by consultants Hatch Mott MacDonald concluded there is no shortage of parking spaces in the downtown, with 3,000 street-side spaces and 1,360 in the parkades. The study also noted the city’s parking rates were among the lowest in Canada.” CBC
Other than the interminably dangerous Pownal Parkade, there are no monthly passes available. The Fitzroy Parkade that services the new buildings like Canfield and ATC, has 100 people on the waiting list for monthly passes.
The disabled parking situation downtown is pathetic. There may be 3 spots outside Canfield but that’s not enough. I’ve had to illegally park on University Avenue to get to the Federal building. One could park in Fitzroy or Queen Street parkades and slog through the rain, snow and crud on the streets. Why not eh?
Would it be logical to have disabled parking outside the Post Office? Apparently not since the City won’t put disabled parking there unless the Canada Post makes the request. Canada Post won’t make the request.
We could ask the PEI Council of People with Disabilities to advocate for more disabled parking downtown. We could also wait for the second coming. It’s easier just to shop and go to the malls where they like customers.
The consultant’s study seems to contradict what people who park in downtown Charlottetown know. Soon the only people downtown will be the day-time workers and people in coffee shops.
What does the song say “Our leaders are the finest men and we elect them again and again.” (Pete Seeger What Did You Learn In School Today)
Parker
Parkade rates up a big chunk too. You have to admire the insight and skill of the staff at City Hall.
Stephen Pate
Yes the parking passes go up to $90 a month which represents about $150 in pretax earnings per month for the plebes who work downtown. $1,800 a year. That’s a lot of lose change. But if you pay the daily rate…well I don’t know how anyone not making big money affords the parkade.
Our politicians are oblivious to all that. They want the same rates as Toronto without people earning Toronto salaries.