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Lethbridge Transportation Planning Manager says parking zones may change

Jun 1, 2018 | 11:08 AM

LETHBRIDGE –  “We need some time, to make sure everything is working, and we are getting all the data, and then we make the right decisions.”

Traffic, Engineering and Transportation Planning Manager Ahmed Ali says he’s aware there’s been a lot of feedback from the public regarding the city’s new parking kiosk system since it went live May 28.

Over the last five days, residents have been upset about everything from the minimum amount of money needed to use the kiosk with a credit card ($1.80), to crowding in the 10-hour zones, to the inability to plug the metres once time has run out, along with the two-hour time limits there are in many areas of the downtown.

Ali says people should give the new system a chance.

“For now, we have to give some time for the system to work. And then we will have data coming in the next couple of weeks, and then we’ll review it and see how it’s working. If it works well, then good. If not, then we are willing to change.”

The metres operate on a computer system, which gathers information on each transaction. Ali explains that the city can’t operate on knee-jerk reactions.

“We want to study it and see if it’s working or not. If need be, we’ll definitely make changes. We’ll use the meeting (Tuesday), to listen to all of the comments our communications people, our parking folks on the ground have received and we will definitely try to help.”

He adds that every new system has its quirks or issues to iron out, and change is also difficult to accept sometimes.

That said, his department also wants to make sure local businesses aren’t suffering.

“Let me make it very, very clear. Zones are subject to change. And as we study the data that comes it, the good thing with this system is we really get exact data. Previously with the meters we couldn’t get data and listen to people and do some studies…we are willing, and we are flexible.”

That means portions of the two-hour zones may be changed to three-hour parking, more 10-hour zones may be added, or there may be other changes ahead.