BIG MOVE #1 – Smarter Parking Initiative

Action

This proposed Big Move includes a combination of three specific parking initiatives:

1. Parking Maximums: convert the minimum parking requirements to maximums for new developments outside of the transit-oriented areas, eliminating or minimizing the requirement for additional parking (Note: the BC Government recently passed Bill 47 Housing Statutes (Transit-Oriented Areas) Amendment Act, which has already eliminated minimum and maximum parking requirements within the transit-oriented areas).
2. Paid On-Street Parking*: implement paid on-street parking at the areas that have high parking occupancy and limited parking availability. This achieving about an 85% parking occupancy rate, meaning that at any given time one out of seven parking spots on a street block remains available for someone wishing to park at that location.
3. Recreation Parking Demand Management*: better manage parking demand at busy park and recreational areas around the city. Similar to the Paid On-Street Parking idea, this approach would focus on achieving the desired parking occupancy rate and desired parking turnover in parking lots that support recreational areas.

* In summer 2024, pay parking will be implemented at five locations where parking is in high demand, including Rocky Point Park, Esplanade Avenue, Murray Street, commercial area of Suter Brook Village, and Ungless Way. The goal of this pay parking program is to improve turnover of parking to increase availability for incoming users, and to encourage a shift toward more sustainable modes of transportation that help reduce traffic and emissions.

Contribution to Climate Action Plan Targets

• With parking maximums in place, new developments would have a limit on the amount of available parking they can include, providing more incentive to choose alternate forms of transportation.
• Implementing paid on-street parking and managing parking demand in recreational areas would:
  1. Reduce the circling of vehicles looking for parking.
  2. Decrease the number of vehicle kilometers travelled.
  3. Improve traffic flow.
  4. Encourage a shift from vehicular trips to more sustainable travel modes.

Consideration and Challenges

Parking Maximums

• This action would need to ensure or retain some level of accessibility parking requirements.
• As converting parking minimums to maximums may not directly lead to reduced provision of parking, the maximum requirements may need to be reviewed periodically and reduced over time and/or based on information such as the regional review undertaken in Metro Vancouver’s regional parking study

Paid On-Street Parking & Recreation Parking Demand Management

• Require a phased approach with ongoing monitoring and potential supportive policies to ensure the desired parking occupancy and turnover outcomes are achieved.
• May have minimal impact or benefit if implemented in areas where there are significant off-street parking opportunities that remain unpriced.

Additional Benefits

Parking Maximums

• Potentially supports housing affordability by reducing parking construction cost through implementing parking maximums.

Paid On-Street Parking & Recreation Parking Demand Management

• Improves overall parking management, which would facilitate more parking turnover and local business activity.
• Lowers stress for vehicle drivers looking for parking and can help manage visitation to uphold a quality experience for all visitors.
• The pay parking system will operate under a user-pay cost recovery model. New infrastructure, maintenance, equipment, enforcement, upgrades, customer services, and ongoing support for pay parking will continue to be funded by the revenue it generates. Excess revenues will support the City’s operations and services that are being used by customers paying for parking.