Roads/Bridges projects/issues

[J.OT13]

CD Howe and the old parking garage next to the BMO building on Laurier are also free on weekends (unless something has changed).

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

CD Howe and the old parking garage next to the BMO building on Laurier are also free on weekends (unless something has changed).

I just checked and the CD Howe building (235 Queen Street) is free on evenings and weekends.

Also the parkade at 265 Laurier Ave W (adjacent to the BMO) is free on on weekends.

[J.OT13]

Thanks Roger!

[MichelKazan]

Originally Posted by roger1818

I just checked and the CD Howe building (235 Queen Street) is free on evenings and weekends.

Also the parkade at 265 Laurier Ave W (adjacent to the BMO) is free on on weekends.

The Indigo Park website doesn't say that 265 Laurier West is free on weekends. It used to be free when the city ran that garage. Since Indigo took it over, the barrier is always down on weekends so that kind of says that it may not be free. Can someone indeed vouch that that garage is still free on weekends?

[Kitchissippi]

It would be interesting if there was a way of integrating parking fee collection with Presto. It could be a way to create a Pimisi-to-Rideau free or discounted ride zone to expand the pool of parking spots downtown especially if new garages are built in LeBreton for the future arena. It would encourage many drivers to get a Presto card which may easily sway them to occasionally take transit instead. It could also be a way of controlling or charging a nominal fee in some of the park-and-ride lots by requiring drivers to tap to get in and out of the lot, ensuring that the spots are taken by transit riders.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by AndyMEng

OR just be a well-paid public servant with included parking.

Does such a thing exist? I thought TBS policy required all public servanta to pay market rates for parking.

[DarthVader_1961]

Originally Posted by phil235

Does such a thing exist? I thought TBS policy required all public servanta to pay market rates for parking.

Public servant here... no free parking for us

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by MichelKazan

The Indigo Park website doesn't say that 265 Laurier West is free on weekends. It used to be free when the city ran that garage. Since Indigo took it over, the barrier is always down on weekends so that kind of says that it may not be free. Can someone indeed vouch that that garage is still free on weekends?

It isn't obvious on the website but it is there:

Above-ground parking structure located between O'Connor Street and Bank Street. Fully-automated with 2 pay stations on-site, 24/7 access, free parking on weekends.

The gates might be down to catch those arrive before the weekend or leave after the weekend is over, since the lot is open 24/7.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

It would be interesting if there was a way of integrating parking fee collection with Presto. It could be a way to create a Pimisi-to-Rideau free or discounted ride zone to expand the pool of parking spots downtown especially if new garages are built in LeBreton for the future arena. It would encourage many drivers to get a Presto card which may easily sway them to occasionally take transit instead. It could also be a way of controlling or charging a nominal fee in some of the park-and-ride lots by requiring drivers to tap to get in and out of the lot, ensuring that the spots are taken by transit riders.

I have said the same thing for a while now. It doesn't have to be the only way you pay, but add it as another option. A perk they could add is if you use your Presto to pay for parking, you can use transit for free while parked, encouraging people to park once and then use transit to get around. Optimally the parking rate should be linked to the transit fare as I previously suggested.

[c_speed3108]

Originally Posted by roger1818

I'm not surprised. By 5:30pm the parking situation should have cleared up most days.



City Hall isn't free on weekends, but it is very cheap ($0.50 per 30 min, $2 max from 6 am to 6 pm or 6 pm to 6 am as well as Monday to Friday 6 pm to 6 am). It has become a go to for me when I do need to drive to that part of town evenings and weekends as the fact that it isn't free means there is usually space, but it is so cheap, it might as well be free.

According to the city's website, the following city owned, downtown lots are free on weekends:

• Gloucester Garage (Saturday, Sunday and holidays, also M-F 9 pm to 8:30 am)
• Albert and Lyon Parking Lot (Saturday and Sunday)
• Kent and Queen Parking Lot (Saturday and Sunday)
• Slater Parking Lot (Saturday and Sunday)
• Tech High School Parking Lot (Saturday and Sunday)

The World Exchange Plaza (~1200 spots!) is free on the weekends from the agreement with the old city of Ottawa to use a lane of Metcalfe and a lane of O'conner for their ramps.

240 Sparks (enter off Queen!) is also free on the weekend and after 5PM on Weekdays

There is lots of parking. I just think people don't always know where to find it as it is not plainly visible. Even parking rates at most garages are not easy for a passing motorist to get gauge.

City Hall will also become free on Weekends (and evenings???) during the Elgin construction

Dalhousie Garage (lowertown/market - 141 Clarence Street) is only $4 max after 6 PM and weekends

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by c_speed3108

The World Exchange Plaza (~1200 spots!) is free on the weekends from the agreement with the old city of Ottawa to use a lane of Metcalfe and a lane of O'conner for their ramps.

Yup. That was mentioned by AndyMEng in post #1519. Nice to know why though.

240 Sparks (enter off Queen!) is also free on the weekend and after 5PM on Weekdays

That is the same as the CD Howe building (235 Queen Street) discussed in posts #1521 and 1522.

There is lots of parking. I just think people don't always know where to find it as it is not plainly visible. Even parking rates at most garages are not easy for a passing motorist to get gauge.

For sure. The "Free on Weekends" text is very small the signs for some private lots that are free, don't even say it at all.

City Hall will also become free on Weekends (and evenings???) during the Elgin construction

Nice to know, though that means it will probably fill up faster.

Dalhousie Garage (lowertown/market - 141 Clarence Street) is only $4 max after 6 PM and weekends

I had limited my scope to lots in or close to the CBD, but that is good to know. It is only a block from the ByWard Market Garage so likely worth the $3 savings and it is probably easier to get in and out of.

[Lakeofthewood]

I don't agree with Mr Egan very often, but one point of his article I agree with.

Anytime I have to run to the CBD for a meeting in the middle of a weekday, finding parking is a disaster. It's a 20ish minute drive downtown from my main office, but the transit routes (of course) would take me at least an hour to get downtown, so that's not really an option. Therefore you have to leave yourself about 20 minutes to find parking, since you never know what your options are going to be and there is no way to check availability beforehand.

As for downtown parking the rest of the time (evenings, weekends) I've never had a problem finding any. Sure Elgin gets packed around suppertime on Thursday and Friday, but you can still find free parking if you are willing to walk a few blocks, and paid parking places are always empty. People are just too cheap to pay the $3 for evening parking, and would rather whine about the lack of close free parking.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by MichelKazan

The Indigo Park website doesn't say that 265 Laurier West is free on weekends. It used to be free when the city ran that garage. Since Indigo took it over, the barrier is always down on weekends so that kind of says that it may not be free. Can someone indeed vouch that that garage is still free on weekends?

It was free when we went to La Machine last summer. Still had to punch in for a ticket and insert the ticket to open the gate and leave, but no charge.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by Lakeofthewood

Anytime I have to run to the CBD for a meeting in the middle of a weekday, finding parking is a disaster. It's a 20ish minute drive downtown from my main office, but the transit routes (of course) would take me at least an hour to get downtown, so that's not really an option. Therefore you have to leave yourself about 20 minutes to find parking, since you never know what your options are going to be and there is no way to check availability beforehand.

As others have said, maybe it is a sign that daytime parking rates are too low. The City Hall Garage is $205/month and the Gloucester Garage (212 Gloucester Street) is $215/month. Both of those seem cheap and could be bumped up a bit. Both have no monthly spaces available and the waiting list is closed. Another sign the price is too low.

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by Lakeofthewood

I don't agree with Mr Egan very often, but one point of his article I agree with.

Anytime I have to run to the CBD for a meeting in the middle of a weekday, finding parking is a disaster. It's a 20ish minute drive downtown from my main office, but the transit routes (of course) would take me at least an hour to get downtown, so that's not really an option. Therefore you have to leave yourself about 20 minutes to find parking, since you never know what your options are going to be and there is no way to check availability beforehand.

As for downtown parking the rest of the time (evenings, weekends) I've never had a problem finding any. Sure Elgin gets packed around suppertime on Thursday and Friday, but you can still find free parking if you are willing to walk a few blocks, and paid parking places are always empty. People are just too cheap to pay the $3 for evening parking, and would rather whine about the lack of close free parking.

The park and rides have a similar problem.. They fill up with commuters so its impossible to get a spot if you wanna use then in the midday.

IMO there should be parking spots downtown as well as spots in the park and rides where nobody is allowed to enter them before 9:30am so that midday users have something.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

The park and rides have a similar problem.. They fill up with commuters so its impossible to get a spot if you wanna use then in the midday.

IMO there should be parking spots downtown as well as spots in the park and rides where nobody is allowed to enter them before 9:30am so that midday users have something.

St Laurent mall is good for that purpose.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

IMO there should be parking spots downtown as well as spots in the park and rides where nobody is allowed to enter them before 9:30am so that midday users have something.

Or just designated short term spots in the garages.

I do think that midday parking right downtown is an issue (one that is easily fixed by adjusting the parking rates). However, if you are able bodied, there are lots of 1 and 2 hour street spots just south of the core. I've never had an issue finding a spot on streets like Gloucester or Nepean and walking a few blocks.

[PHrenetic]

Originally Posted by acottawa

St Laurent mall is good for that purpose.

Good Day.

Caution:

just remember that that is explicitly illegal, and you can be ticketed, and even towed.
It is private parking - for the exclusive use of and by customers of the mall.
As is the case for all malls.
Unless and explicitly exempted for special purposed and occasions.

Be Aware.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by PHrenetic

Good Day.

Caution:

just remember that that is explicitly illegal, and you can be ticketed, and even towed.
It is private parking - for the exclusive use of and by customers of the mall.
As is the case for all malls.
Unless and explicitly exempted for special purposed and occasions.

Be Aware.

They don't seem to go to any effort to restrict parking after 9:30, nor is it really in their interest to do so (the parking lot is nowhere near capacity on weekdays and those parking people are also potential customers).

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

It would be interesting if there was a way of integrating parking fee collection with Presto. It could be a way to create a Pimisi-to-Rideau free or discounted ride zone to expand the pool of parking spots downtown especially if new garages are built in LeBreton for the future arena. It would encourage many drivers to get a Presto card which may easily sway them to occasionally take transit instead. It could also be a way of controlling or charging a nominal fee in some of the park-and-ride lots by requiring drivers to tap to get in and out of the lot, ensuring that the spots are taken by transit riders.

Thant would be pretty awesome!