Some changes to winter overnight parking regulations came into effect this month, including free access to city parking garages when a street parking ban is in effect.
On-street parking during winter storms is a long-standing challenge for both city and residents in areas that utilize on-street parking as a primary option for parking their vehicles – that would be all of Lowertown. The updated regulations seek to balance the competing priorities of winter maintenance and parking needs of residents. Many residents, business and visitors rely on on-street parking on a regular basis, and the Public Works Department must provide options for parking on city streets during winter months while ensuring proper winter roadway maintenance.
Here’s a summary of the report prepared by the transportation committee for City Council – get in the know now and avoid hassles later.
Free off-street parking in city-owned parking garages
during overnight parking bans only
Residents can now park overnight for free at City-owned parking garages when there is a winter overnight parking ban in effect. This option is made available to ensure that residents have an easily accessible and practical place to park during a ban. The free overnight parking in city garages does NOT apply to regular, planned snow removal operations.
How does it work? For the gate controlled garages at 70 Clarence, 141 Clarence and 110 Laurier (City Hall), vehicles entering garage must take a ticket. Between 4 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. the exit gates will be raised and free exit will be granted. Don’t overstay your welcome! Vehicles that do not exit between 4 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. will be required to pay regular parking rates for the total time of their stay. For the Pay and Display parking garages at 210 Gloucester, 170 Second Ave and 762 Somerset St W, parking is free overnight. There are no changes to existing rates and times. Each pay and display garage has a different time when the free period starts, so make sure to check the posted times.
Winter on-street parking permit goes up to $140/month
The fee structure for on-street parking permits has changed: permit holders will pay higher fees in the winter and lower fees in the summer. The fee will change from a flat $59/month plus tax to a revised fee schedule, effective upon approval of by city council. The new fee structure will take effect early 2016:
- Summer monthly fee (April – November): $30 plus tax
- Winter monthly fee (December – March): $140 plus tax
- The annual permit (January – December) remains the same at $648 plus tax.
Lowertown streets
The city’s transportation committee determined that there is an increase in the purchase of on-street parking permits by approximately 20% during the winter months in comparison with the summer months. In the winter months, the permits allow vehicles to be parked on the street during a winter overnight parking ban, raising the cost of winter maintenance operations. Fewer people need permits in the warmer months, due to the absence of overnight parking bans and ample parking availability in their areas. In light of this fact, it was recommended that the monthly on-street parking permit fees be separated into two categories (summer and winter) with the goal of having the increased costs for winter maintenance operations due to on-street parking covered solely by the winter parking permit fees, as opposed to the current practice of averaging these costs over the entire 12-month period.
If you have an on-street parking permit, your vehicle is exempt from winter overnight parking restrictions. However, during a winter storm, streets need to be free of vehicles for snow and ice clearing operations to plow the streets effectively and efficiently. During planned overnight snow removal, temporary “no parking” snow removal signs will be posted along streets to be cleared. This parking restriction applies to all vehicles, including vehicles with on-street parking permits. If you park your vehicle overnight on a street with temporary “no parking” snow removal signs, your vehicle may be ticketed and towed.
Increased fine for parking on-street during a winter overnight parking ban
During the 2014/2015 winter season, 12,025 fines were issued for vehicles parked on the street in contravention of a winter overnight parking ban. Consultations held with key stakeholders indicated that many felt the fine amounts for parking on the street during a ban and for other various infractions were ineffective in deterring many individuals from violating the By-law prohibitions. In the spring of 2015, staff applied to the Province of Ontario for increases to parking related fines, including the fine for parking on-street when a winter overnight parking ban is in effect. The new fines of $75 (early payment) and $95 were approved and took effect on June 11, 2015; they are a marginal increase from the previous fines of $65 (early payment) and $85, respectively.
Increased towing of cars parked on-street during a ban
Vehicles parked on-street without a permit during a ban are ticketed; towing is typically initiated when the parked vehicle blocks the access for snowplows. Consultations suggested that towing vehicles, as opposed to ticketing alone, is a more effective deterrent. City staff will consider towing vehicles more frequently in areas where parked cars continue to be an issue during winter storm events. It should be noted that vehicles that are towed automatically receive a fine.