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City wants input to develop downtown parking strategy

Royal City residents are invited to help city hall develop a parking strategy for downtown New Westminster.

Royal City residents are invited to help city hall develop a parking strategy for downtown New Westminster.

The City of New Westminster is holding an open house regarding the parking strategy that will guide the long-term planning and management of parking in the city's downtown. It's being held on Thursday, Sept. 13 from 6 to 8 p.m. at city hall.

According to the City of New Westminster, the Sept. 13 event will be the first of two public open houses where members of the public will be able to contribute to the development of the strategy. The first open house will focus on existing conditions and help develop a vision for the future of parking in downtown New Westminster.

People will be able to view information on display boards and talk to city staff about parking from 6 to 7 p.m. That will be followed by a brief presentation and discussion tables hosted by members of the parking study team from 7 to 8 p.m.

The City of New Westminster states that the open house will provide an opportunity to: understand the policies, plans and organizations that shape parking in Downtown New Westminster; review the results of data collection and analysis about parking supply and demand; provide input on issues, challenges, and opportunities; and discuss your vision for the downtown and guiding principles for parking management.

The downtown parking study, which will cost about $90,000 to prepare, will include data collection on current parking regulations and supply and future projected demand and supply, consultation with area stakeholders, development of policies and strategies based on city objectives and community feedback.

Mayor Wayne Wright recently told The Record that the study would consider a range of parking provided in the downtown, including parking at the future civic centre, the Front Street parkade and the Plaza 88 development. He said the information obtained in the study will help the city determine its parking needs in the future and make decisions regarding the fate of the Front Street parkade.

The study, to be done by Urban Systems, will identify short-, medium-and longterm measures regarding the quality, type and locations of parking in downtown New Westminster. The city expects the study to be completed by January 2013.

tmcmanus@royalcityrecord.com