City brainstorming parking options for LRT commuters

For those who prefer driving to their nearest LRT station rather than taking a bus, there’s a price to pay for the convenience.  Lack of parking.

Some art taking to residential streets to park much to the chagrin of local homeowners, particularly at the McKernan-Belgravia LRT station.  So the city is looking at options.

That could include church parking lots which are next to empty during weekdays.  Or going the other way – making park-and-ride lots more expensive and less desirable.  The transit authorities have also suggested having a four-hour limit when people are riding the train for shorter trips.

Something needs to be done to ease the congestion.

Century Park LRT station is another trouble spot.  Some commuters have said they’ve changed their hours at work just so they will get to Century Park early enough in the morning to snag a spot.  There are 1,300 stalls for commuters in the free lot and in order to get spot, riders must arrive before 7:00 am to get a spot and this has been problematic for six years, ever since Century Park opened.  Edmonton Transit has reserved spots that commuters can purchase for $49 a month but if an unauthorized person parks there, ignoring signage, it can cause serious delays in trying to get downtown.

They may even look at parking lots for LRT commuters mid-way along a train line that could be shared with third-parties such as shopping plazas or commercial buildings.

LRT stops like the ones at Belvedere and Clareview have full parking lots by 7:30 am.  An Edmonton city councilor, who has been working with a developer who is considering building a huge condominium complex within walking distance of Clareview.  In putting their heads together, they’re thinking that if they get a permit to build a separate parkade on the site, commuters could pay to use it during the day and in the evening, it would be secondary parking or visit parking for condo owners.

On the other hand, if Edmonton is looking at building density particularly along LRT corridors, then encouraging the use of motor vehicles by providing better parking options doesn’t fall in line with this plan and upgrading bus service to these stations would make more sense.

This winter, a grassroots movement attempted to convince commuters to strap on cross-country skis and ski to their nearest LRT Station, leaving their cars at home.

Edmonton Transit also reminders transit riders that the Smart Bus service will give real-time schedules to commuters taking into account accidents or snow conditions on the road, making it easier to catch feeder buses.

In the meantime, Edmonton Transit must also work on acquiring new suburban park’n’ride options as some land is in the southwest is leased for free parking and the lease is at the halfway point. Another lot south of Anthony Henday, at Ellerslie and 127 Street could be an option with shuttles running every seven to eight minutes that could take riders to the station, similar to park and ride lots at the airport.  The price tag for this option would be $3 million a year and a further $10 million for shuttle buses.