The City of New Westminster will spend about $90,000 to conduct a detailed parking study for the downtown.
The study will collect data on current parking regulations and supply, and future projected demand and supply. The process also includes consultation with area stakeholders, development of policies and strategies based on city objectives, community feedback and best practices.
Mayor Wayne Wright said the study will 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.
While some people believe that the city should demolish part of the Front Street parkade, others have stressed the need for parking in the downtown. Before any decision is made about the fate of the parkade, Wright said the city needs to evaluate parking needs of today and the future.
"Once we find out all the information, we can make a decision on what to do," Wright said.
The study, to be done by Urban Systems, will identify short-, mediumand long-term measures regarding the quality, type and locations of parking in downtown New Westminster.
"While recent studies show a surplus of on-street and off-street parking in both public and private facilities, parking is not always available close to destinations and there are concerns about parking and the long-term viability of downtown businesses as the area redevelops, particularly with respect to the future of the Front Street parkade and the attractiveness and accessibility of the city's waterfront," said a staff report.
The first step of the process is to conduct on-street parking surveys. The city expects the study to be completed by January 2013.
"The downtown parking study provides an opportunity for the establishment of a comprehensive data baseline for parking in the downtown, a dialogue with stakeholders on addressing current issues and future directions and the identification of policies and strategies," said the report. "The process and deliverables will help move the city toward achieving the objectives of the downtown community plan and a more livable, successful downtown."
