With the Evergreen Line coming and the results of the transit plebiscite still weeks away, the city of Coquitlam is embarking on a study that will outline its parking needs around future SkyTrain stations.
Jozsef Dioszeghy, the general manager of engineering, said with so much change coming to the area, staff need to know the current parking inventory and what is required for future growth.
"We are a growing city," he said. "We have been developing parking issues all over."
The results of the transit referendum could have a huge impact on how the city plans for parking around transit stations, he said.
The city is already expecting a 10% increase in bus service after the Evergreen Line is built with the re-routing of the 97 B-Line. A Yes vote would mean an additional 25% increase in bus capacity, enhancing linkages between far-flung neighbourhoods and future SkyTrain stations, staff said.
However, a No vote would mean that many residents would be forced to drive to their closest Evergreen Line station, a situation staff believe could create pressure on parking capacity in some areas.
"That is the specific area where the outcome of the referendum will have a major baring," Dioszeghy said. "If there is no money for buses, it will change the parking demand for the future."
The city plans to study the parking needs around the stations, paying particularly close attention to the areas between 400 m and 800 m from the transit hubs, which staff said is about a 10 to 15 minute walk. The research will help guide the city in coming up with ways of regulating parking and deciding when pay parking or time limited parking is necessary.
Coun. Craig Hodge said he was worried that more stringent regulations may push vehicles further away into neighbourhoods that cannot handle the additional traffic.
"It could push day-long commuter parkers further into neighbourhoods," he said. "How do we deal with that and how far out do we go?"
Coquitlam is also looking at working with private development to expand the number of parking stalls near future Evergreen Line stations.
The report said that staff will examine the possibility of working with mixed-use commercial or residential properties in neighbourhoods where the amount of public parking is limited.
Engineering staff will consult with the various city departments, the Urban Development Institute, the city of Burnaby, the city of Port Moody and TransLink in producing the report. Public consultations will be conducted through the City Centre Area Plan and the Burquitlam-Lougheed Neighbourhood Plan, which are scheduled for later this year.
[email protected]
@gmckennaTC
