Town’s parking focusof downtown study

Town’s parking focusof downtown study

Top Stories

By: Sandra Bolan

Bradford West Gwillimbury council hired Itran Consulting to create a downtown parking strategy for the municipality.

“Once a thriving commercial and cultural centre, the town’s downtown core has declined over the past several decades due to a combination of factors,”
according to the request for proposals. “The principal causes include competition from commercial development within neighbouring municipalities and considerable traffic passing through the core, as commuters utilize the Yonge Street corridor connecting York Region to communities north of Bradford West Gwillimbury.”

The study, which will cost $20,509, will answer the following questions:

— How many parking spaces are available on-street, within privately-owned parking areas and within municipally-owned lots?

— What is the quality of those spaces?
— Is the signage adequate?
— What is the demand for parking now and what will it be 10 years from now?
— Where should new public parking spaces be located?
— What, if any, revenue generation or cost recovery should be undertaken for public parking?

— What is the best approach for balancing the needs of residents, merchants and patrons, while not placing a financial burden on the municipality?

The project is to be completed, with final recommendations made to council, in November.

“I’m happy we’re going through with this,” Ward 2 Councillor James Leduc said.
“I’m excited to see the results.”

All content contained in this or any other yorkregion.com website including but not limited to textual, audio, video and any graphics are copyright 2000-2008 Metroland Media Group Ltd. and can not be used in any part without expressed written permission, with the exception of content in the yorkregion.com Pen & Pixel section, which requires the written consent of the authors.