Frustrated businesses are calling for a solution to Victoria’s ongoing parking problem.
From lineups at parkade entrances to a steady stream of cars circling the block, it’s clear parking in the city’s downtown is at a premium.
The Victoria Chamber of Commerce estimates one-third of public parking spaces have disappeared in the last eight years – more than 1,600 spots.
“It really seems to have been this fall that was the tipping point,” said Chamber CEO Catherine Holt.
Constant construction in the downtown core has been eating up parking spaces, and Holt says the city needs creative solutions to free up more.
“One would be a dedicated bus lane from the West Shore to downtown so that the bus goes faster than cars,” said Holt. “And it looks like an attractive alternative to driving your car to work downtown.”
The Downtown Victoria Business Association wants to see more car and bike shares.
It’s also looking at creating a park-and-ride on the outskirts of city limits.
“Our key is to get people shuttled in properly,” said DVBA Executive Director Kerri Milton. “We’re looking at the downtown commuters and what that could potentially look like, because those are the people we’d be servicing of course.”
The city has been offering up free parking for an hour in parkades to bring more people downtown.
It’s worked too well, adding to the already congested parking problem.
Councillors voted Thursday morning to look at solutions, including taking away those free spaces to make parking less attractive.
“It could mean a marginal increase in the fees, or it could mean opening up the question of the first hour free,” said Coun. Ben Isitt.
