2-hour limit to move drivers off meters in downtown St. John's

Drivers who park in downtown St. John's will no longer be able to pre-pay up to 10 hours on a single meter.

City council unanimously approved a motion Monday to free up spaces in the area, by limiting parking to two hours.

The change will affect meters on Harbour Drive, where 10-hour parking is now permitted, and on Water Street (from Waldegrave to Prescott), where four-hour parking is now allowed, as well as other streets in the downtown.

"Parking meters are intended for short-term parking," said a report to the Community Services Committee from Chris Pitcher, supervisor of parking services.

"The purpose of time limits...is to ensure that parking spaces regularly become available for customers of area businesses and visitors to the area."

The report pointed out that meters were designed to accept 10 hours of pre-paid parking because there was a shortage of long-term parking in the downtown.

However, the report said there are two new parking garages — one on Harbour Drive, another on Duckworth Street — with 461 spaces.

While monthly passes have all been sold, many of the 278 transient spaces are still available in those garages.

The parking garage in Atlantic Place is also now advertising weekday spaces.

"Results indicate a significant availability of transient parking spaces," said the report, which goes on to say that Downtown St. John's and the St. John's Board of Trade agree with reducing the time allowed on meters.

The changes take effect May 1.

Parking fees at MetroPark on Duckworth Street is $4 an hour, while 351 Water and Atlantic Place have daily parking for $15, the same cost as 10 hours on a Harbour Drive meter.