Parking restrictions could soon be eased in Barrie’s Allandale neighbourhood.
City council will consider approving a motion Monday night that the 7-9 a.m. ban be temporarily suspended until overflow parking from Allandale Waterfront GO station becomes an issue for area residents, or until viable technology based solution can be implemented.
“What (the ban) was meant to do was dissuade GO users to have their car sit there (on nearby streets) all day, which was a bit of a nuisance for residents,” said Coun. Jim Harris, who represents this part of Barrie. “It just seemed like it became an inconvenience to the residents, and it was meant to be there to support them. It ended up being an aggravation to them.
“Residents are recognizing that, too, and they’re asking for relief from (the ban). With COVID, we have a bit of a suspension of those things. People weren’t commuting," Harris added.
“With COVID and fewer commuters, there is a perception that the parking issue wouldn’t be a burden on the area,” said Dave Friary, the city's director of operations.
Harris said the parking restrictions can be quickly reinstated, if needed.
The parking ban applies to Cumberland, Milburn, William, Granville, Holgate, Robinson and Innisfil streets, as well as Bayview Drive and Essa Road.
Barbara Mackie, of the Allandale Neighbourhood Association (ANA), said the group is in full support of the plan.
“This initiative began approximately five years ago, so we are pleased to see some progress and understand there will be no costs associated with removing the no parking signs and residents will be notified of the changes,” she said.
Harris said he drives by the GO station nearly every day and there’s always plenty of parking for commuters on Gowan Street, so there’s no need for restrictions on the side streets.
“Residents aren’t being inconvenienced by commuters parking in from of their homes, so let’s just suspend it while we have this window and then we can adjust accordingly,” said the Ward 8 councillor, who has heard suggestions that a 9-11 a.m. parking ban would work better, if it’s restored.
The city is also looking into licence-plate recognition (LPR) capabilities for bylaw enforcement to identify and register which vehicles are linked to a household; it’s so bylaw enforcement could determine which car should or should not be there. Harris said he has asked for a pilot project in Allandale.
“It’s pretty carte blanche now. You want a restriction, it means all cars,” he said. “How do we (the city) know your car is supposed to be there and someone else’s isn’t?”
Brent Forsyth, Barrie’s director of transit and parking strategy, said the city is looking at a few different technologies, such as a mobile parking app and digital permitting which would be supported by LPR technology.
“We do believe that these technologies are the key to improving the residents experiences with parking and driving operational efficiencies,” he said. “For example, digital permitting or a mobile parking app provide the customer with a much more convenient opportunity to pay for parking or acquire a parking permit by registering their licence plate through an online portal.”
Mackie said the ANA will lend its support to the LPR once the software is purchased.
Harris said there’s little question GO ridership is down, due to the pandemic, although he doesn’t have numbers.
“We hope there is a return to the GO use, because that means our communities are getting back to normal and our businesses are moving forward,” he said.
