Huntsville’s downtown parking woes were back on the agenda at this week’s General Committee meeting (July 27). Town staff presented the results of an open house held July 5 in Partners Hall at which they hoped to gather public input into the problem. There was lively discussion at the open house itself but only five people took the time to complete and submit a comment form.
The next step, the report says, would be an environmental assessment process to evaluate proposed solutions. Making High Street one way was among the suggested solutions to Huntsville’s downtown parking congestion, which didn’t sit well with everyone.
Councillor Karin Terziano said she heard as many comments against the one-way option at the open house as there were support for it.
A lot of people were talking strictly about the enforcement of our two-hour parking zone. If we were to put some effort into that…it might alleviate a lot of problems.
Councillor Karin Terziano
She added that enforcement of Huntsville’s downtown parking limits is not an easy task for bylaw officers. “It’s fine to convey to our bylaw department that more enforcement is needed, but we’ve never given them the tools to enforce it. Once we took out parking meters, they don’t have the ability to enforce. I think that should be discussed even before we start spending on an EA.”
The town’s CAO, Denise Corry, suggested that staff could be directed to investigate a no-pay parking ticket dispenser. Requiring drivers to display a time-stamped ticket would help bylaw officers to enforce parking limits, she said. But Corry acknowledged that limited staff would impact how much could be done. “We have two bylaw officers who have a large responsibility… Resources are an issue. We can’t guarantee bylaw will get there on a regular basis.”
Some support for one-ways and active transportation
Councillor Jonathan Wiebe is in favour of the one-way option, citing the city of Calgary as an example where a vibrant downtown has not been impeded by a grid of one-way streets. “It moves people quickly and gives everyone access… I hope it’s given serious consideration,” he said.
Wiebe also said more needs to be done to encourage other types of transportation, particularly for staff working downtown, like biking or walking to work. “If we give that option (to people), they just might take it.”
If an Environmental Assessment is approved by council during 2017 budget deliberations, the process would include modelling to determine what the impact of one-way streets would be on traffic flow in other areas. In the meantime, staff have been directed to bring back a report to committee investigating enforcement options.
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I fail to understand why one-way streets are anathema to our residents. One (or more) could comfortably introduced after Thanksgiving; giving the locals ample time to familiarize themselves with them prior to the incursion of tourists in ski season, and the greater increase the following summer. Certainly the majority of the tourist population originates from larger cities where one-way streets are extremely common.
If High St. West was made one way (with a right-in only configuration), and the right-out option was removed from High Street East; the safety issue at that particular intersection would be almost non-existent. Either the overhead traffic signal could be removed, or it could be used to indicate a pedestrian crosswalk.
Angled parking on High Street West (especially if the one-way option was extended to Centre Street) would not provide additional parking; but it would replace the forty spaces, which awkwardly divide Rivermill Park.
Two traffic islands and some line painting would be considerably less expensive than hiring even one part-time bylaw officer.
Parking… for, against, pay or free?
One thing I can tell you for sure is that free parking downtown is the biggest factor in making the downtown competitive with the mall areas.
We all know that no parking is “free” as the malls pay to build and maintain their parking lots. The downtown area has to do this somehow to compete. No question here.
If the two hour limit is being abused, we had a system years ago that worked ok. A summer student, watch and piece of chalk did the trick. They walk the main street from top to bottom on one side and then back on the other side, chalk the tires as they pass. If they repeat this trip about every two hours they can easily see if the chalk mark has moved (car has moved) and thus can issue tickets as necessary to cars that have not been moved. This is a vastly cheaper way than more machines and ticket issuing and perhaps if used even for a month or so as a trial would be a cheap way to find out if the current system is indeed being abused.
As I started I have to point out that for an out of town person, the availability of ample and free parking near the stores I wish to visit is a requirement for you to get my business. It is right in there with free wi-fi at Hortons Mc Donalds and the hotels. It is expected and necessary if these stores want my business.