Peter Shokeir | [email protected]
The Municipality of Jasper will launch the paid parking pilot project in the downtown core starting in early July.
All two-hour parking will become paid parking at $2 per hour between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
To pay, drivers will need to download and use a parking app on their smartphone, or scan/tap a sign to pay without the need to download an app.
Drivers can also pay in cash at the municipal administration office.
“Public parking in Jasper is not free – it is paid for by residential and commercial property tax payers, and by extension their tenants,” the municipality stated on its website.
“The cost of construction, paving, snow removal, sweeping and maintenance is currently funded by property taxes. This project is intended to charge users for the services they use.”
On-street 15-minute drop-off zones, accessible parking stalls and off-street parking lots will remain free to use.
The municipality will also install new signage to let drivers know about the new parking program.
HotSpot was retained as the service provider for this project.
Bylaw officers will focus on compliance for the beginning of the project and will communicate the new parking requirements but are able to issue a warning for first-time offenders.
With the ability to track licence plates through the app, bylaw officers will escalate enforcement after a warning has been issued.
To mitigate the impact on residential areas, resident parking passes will be required for on-street parking within a one-block radius of the pilot project area.
Residents within the designated areas will be asked to create a free HotSpot account, which will be available for Jasper starting June 21, and register their vehicles in the system.
For private home accommodations (PHS) in the designated residential areas, guests will have to either use on-property parking stalls, or off-street lots and residential streets not subject to residential parking passes.
As well, affected PHA owners can purchase a temporary guest pass at $5 per day.
More information on paid parking is available at the municipality’s website.
