The City of Quebec continues to expand the areas where parking meters will operate; Not to make money, but to make it “easier” for drivers.
This was said by the director of the Service for Transport and Smart Mobility, Marc Des Rivières, on Thursday during the consideration of the budget.
In fact, the city will standardize the operating hours of its parking meters from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. This will have a particular impact on the Sainte-Foy and Sillery sectors, especially on the Maguire and Myrand arteries, where parking fees will be charged continuously until 9:00 p.m. from the spring, while at the same time the new parking machines are being installed. . At the moment they were only there until 6 p.m. on some days at the beginning of the week.
The information was published by Noovo Info earlier this week.
simplification
In plenary, Mr Des Rivières reiterated that this was done with the aim of simplification.
Because elsewhere in the area it is often effective until 9 p.m. Adding signs to explain the differences in Sainte-Foy-Sillery would have caused confusion. “In the end we could have had panels 2 meters high. We said to ourselves: “The mental strain on the driver makes no sense.” So we decided on a single panel.
“It will be much easier for all drivers. So harmonization simply means making it easy for the user.”
Mr. Des Rivières assures that the amounts collected by the city are small and that the reason is not greed.
$100,000 per year
“It’s not about getting money, we’re going to get $90,000, maybe $100,000 with this measure.”
On Maguire and Myrand the changes were more significant, the director agreed, but this was “necessary” to ensure a better understanding of the signage.
“Laugh at the world”
The president of the Commercial Development Company (SDC) of Avenue Maguire, Bruno Salvail, believes that “the world and the traders are being laughed at”, and justifies the city by harmonizing the opening hours of parking meters by extending them until 9 p.m to justify.
“I cannot believe that these words were said in such a serious context as a committee of the whole by a senior manager of the city of Quebec. I am shocked. This is unspeakable! It is irresponsible and careless, I am outraged,” replied Mr Salvail.
“It's absurd. I'm not afraid to say it. Do they care that there are potential customers who will be turned away by this? Do they care about “that mental load”?
Mr. Salvail expressed his opposition to this measure in a previous presentation, but was not heard.
Although the changes are planned for the spring, this still adds to the climate of uncertainty that traders are experiencing. The civil servants' strike movement rocking Quebec is having repercussions everywhere.
“I also have a shop on the street. In the last two weeks there has been a 35% decrease in sales. At other retailers it is currently 40 to 50 percent less than at the same time in previous years. Retailers are under huge pressure and they are hearing that in 2024 we will be adding a big deterrent element to stop people shopping on high streets,” said Mr Salvail, who is also the owner of Brynd Smoked Meat.
– In collaboration with Diane Tremblay
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