CANMORE – The COVID-19 pandemic not only delayed the implementation of paid parking in Canmore, it showed the municipality there are areas outside the downtown core – like Quarry Lake – that need improved parking strategies.
Manager of engineering services Andy Esarte was in front of council on Nov. 3 to update elected officials on the program and to share what was learned in 2020 with respect to parking demand in the community as a result of the pandemic.
"We expect some updates are needed for this plan," Esarte said. "Those include looking at revenue projections due to a potential COVID accommodation on Main Street again next summer and some other tweaks that may be required based on another year of input from the community and ongoing planning work.
"Our intent is to make those updates and come back with a presentation with any details of changes planned for 2021."
Council supported the recommendation to implement paid parking in 2021, with more details expected to return for review as part of the upcoming budget process. Those details would include projected revenues, using them to fund free transit and the cost to establish a paid parking system.
"We were pretty excited about moving forward with this program prior to COVID, at least in the downtown core," said Mayor John Borrowman. "I think we all recognize the value of implementing paid parking and associated services. Given COVID, we couldn't do it this year, but I am happy to see it back on the table."
Council also supported a second recommendation to implement a plan for paid parking and associated parking strategies for high demand areas outside the town centre. That includes Quarry Lake, the Peaks of Grassi neighbourhood, Old Canmore Road and the Cougar Creek trailhead.
"These recommendations are based on strategies outlined in the integrated transportation plan, as was approved back in June 2018, as well as the updated strategic priorities of our strategic plan," Esarte said. "The second recommendation is based on challenges we have had over the past summer due to increased visitation and day use with COVID, and just general growth in the community and tourism.
"We have identified a number of areas where problems could be addressed through parking fees and restrictions and to help ensure our infrastructure is not overflowing."
A residential parking permit program has been developed to accompany paid parking in the downtown core. Esarte said that can also be used to alleviate effects in residential neighbourhoods that are adjacent to areas that saw increased visitor demand. In addition to Quarry Lake and the effects on the Peaks of Grassi, he pointed to the Cougar Creek trailhead parking lot and its nearby residential neighbourhoods as appropriate for considering new parking strategies.
Old Canmore Road, he added, is another good example, as two new rental apartment buildings are expected to reach occupancy in the New Year. Both were approved with reduced parking requirements.
Council already considered implementing paid parking for Quarry Lake after receiving provincial grant funding earlier this year. The popular day-use area, wedding venue and off-leash dog park, saw increased visitation this year that resulted in parking overflowing onto Highway 742.
Esarte said the process will involve community engagement, with recommendations returning to council in the New Year. Council can also expect to learn more about projected revenues and how those will be used to support the operation of new infrastructure at Quarry Lake.
Paid parking for downtown Canmore was set to move forward in 2020, however, it was put on hold in April due to the pandemic.
However, that doesn't mean administration wasn't focused on it. Esarte said the municipality worked on collecting data this summer on parking demand to understand how changes to visitation and the closure of Main Street to vehicular traffic affected parking demand.
"We noted our utilization rates remained well above target," he said. "That was despite losing some parking stock and some reduction in parking demand."
