Downtown Pay Parking

THIS PROJECT IS COMPLETE

Beach Parking Permits grant access to free parking at downtown parking locations. Eligible residents can register for a free annual pass at tofino.robbinsparking.com

Background

In spring 2023, Council authorized staff to begin implementation of a pay parking program in Tofino's downtown core. On April 4, 2023 staff launched a public engagement campaign to gather feedback from residents and businesses to help shape the details of the program. Following the public consultation phase, Council voted to roll-out the program by offering all eligible beach permit holders free parking downtown in 2023. Downtown pay parking is anticipated to be in effect mid July, 2023

Tofino’s summer vibrancy leads to increased parking pressures in the downtown core, creating negative impacts for many residents, businesses, and visitors. In frequent cases, informal and poor parking habits resulted in reduced parking convenience/access to public spaces, infrastructure and vegetation damage, degraded road user safety, and high enforcement needs.

Pay parking is a proven way to increase turnover and parking availability while providing an important funding source to support parking and mobility infrastructure costs without additional taxation.

The Downtown Pay Parking Program is the second phase of the District's pay parking program following the introduction of beach pay parking in 2021. Downtown pay parking will be operated as a separate program from beach pay parking due to the nature of the differing parking needs of downtown and beach locations.

The Downtown Pay Parking Program is being funded through beach pay parking revenues.

Objectives

The objectives of the downtown pay parking program are to:

• Encourage turnover of vehicles to ensure there are more open parking spaces and less traffic.
• Encourage a sustainable mobility mode shift as outlined in the District's Multi-Modal Transportation Plan.
• Introduce an additional revenue stream to support District programs, services, and facilities.

The downtown pay parking program is largely based on the existing parking system in the downtown core. Areas that are currently designated as timed parking will become the pay parking spaces, areas that are currently reserved for offshore parking will be unchanged.

The program is proposed to be in effect from May to October each year, between 9AM and 6PM daily. Parking demand in Tofino is highest during the busy visitor season, and the May to October timeframe is the time of year when other mobility options including the Free Shuttle, cycling, and walking are available and attractive. The daily 9AM to 6PM paid hours provide accommodations for residents to shop, bank, pick-up mail and run other errands outside of those hours without having to pay for parking during the summer season.

Public Input

The District of Tofino would like to hear from members of the community on how the program is working over the summer so staff can continue to make improvements that work best for the community. Please use the 'Comment' and 'Ideas' features below to contribute your thoughts.

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