Downtown workers would like cheaper parking, but consider the costs, says planner
March 3, 2022 · The Pulse
By Emily Rendell-Watson
Comments
A survey for the Edmonton Downtown Business Association found that 60% of workers view the availability of discounted parking as a factor that would increase the likelihood of them choosing to return to work downtown.
But while discounting parking or making it free may seem like an attractive solution to reinvigorate the heart of the city, it’s not that simple, explained urban planner Neal LaMontagne.
“There’s no such thing as free parking. To discount that parking, somebody is paying for it,” he said. If it’s not the city, distributing the cost through taxes, then it’s the building manager or developer, or the employer, a factor that would likely be considered in setting wages.
Discounted downtown parking, which is expensive to build and maintain, would also provide a “tremendous incentive” to choose driving over other modes of transportation. This is problematic because the core has limited capacity to take an influx of cars. There are also environmental concerns that go beyond having more cars on the roads if the demand for parking increases.
A survey for the Edmonton Downtown Business Association found that 60% of workers view the availability of discounted parking as a factor that would increase the likelihood of them choosing to return to work downtown. But while discounting parking or making it free may seem like an attractive...
edmonton.taproot.news