Thorold parking solutions shifting into higher gear
Progress has been made in reducing overcrowded parking conditions in Confederation Heights, although problems persist in Thorold’s downtown core.
Recent strict enforcement of illegal parking in the apron of driveways — the portion between public sidewalk and road — has improved the situation on Winterberry Boulevard in particular.
“The situation is 100 per cent better than it was two weeks ago,” Coun. Terry Ugulini said at Tuesday’s city council meeting.
“We implemented it fairly across the community. Yes, we are going to get some complaints, but I have had way more people happy with what we have done.”
Said Coun. Anthony Longo
“Winterberry has never looked so good. All we did was enforce what was on the books. Unfortunately, some people are inconvenienced, but I’ve had nothing but great comments.”
The core is a different situation. Precise Park Link was awarded $22,900 for the city’s parking strategy, an amount that doesn’t include the cost of parking machines for the pilot project downtown, said engineering manager Sean Dunsmore.
“The intent of the strategy is the parking lot on Towpath (Street) will be permit parking only,” using monthly passes issued from city hall through a new software program, he said. This and other parking enforcement measures will be implemented about the start of next year.
“Once we start working with this contractor, we will be ticketing people who don’t have permits in that area. The strategy is in place to make it more efficient for our bylaw officers to attend and be more effective with their time,” Dunsmore said.
Addressing concerns from Ugulini that the market square parking lot needs lines painted “so our parking enforcer knows where the spots are,” Dunsmore said the entire lot should be re-paved first, to repair damage incurred from a water main break.
Ugulini also wants signs indicating free three-hour parking to be replaced with two-hour parking signs.
“We need to be consistent everywhere,” he said. “Front Street is in dire need of getting lines painted as well. They are barely legible. In the market square, there are people parking there overnight on the south side of the fire hall. It’s ridiculous how many cars are there and we are not generating revenue.”
City CAO Manoj Dilwaria said rev- enue will be generated by the sale of parking permits, which will be invested back in the parking lots downtown.
“The signage will be changed throughout to two hours.”
Ugulini said the city’s former parks and recreation yard behind Front Street could become another permit parking lot.