Council to discuss extending paid parking periods in parts of downtown: Ottawa councillor

A parking payment machine is seen in Ottawa's ByWard Market on Friday, April 25, 2025. (CTV News Ottawa)

Ottawa city council will consider charging for street parking until 9 p.m. in parts of downtown, a councillor says.

City council will discuss extending paid parking only in the areas with the most demand, Beacon Hill-Cyrville councillor Tim Tierney told Newstalk 580 CFRA Ottawa Now with Kristy Cameron Friday afternoon.

“People might come downtown, but park in a spot, especially during the day, and they’ll sit there all day long. That’s taking a way from local businesses,” he said.

Tierney notes that the discussion is an effort to bring a more financially viable parking model that benefits local businesses, and people who want to buy something downtown without having to wait all day long.

He compares people who park all day long, versus “a senior who wants to buy brussels sprouts,” for example, and leave quickly.

“Well, those spots are always full,” Tierney said.

Currently, residents are allowed to park for free on weekdays in the ByWard Market after 5:30 p.m.

Last summer, the city increased the on-street hourly rate to $4 an hour in seven areas due to high demand, including in the ByWard Market.

The proposal will go to public works and infrastructure committee on May 22. Tierney says recommendations for extending on-street parking hours will be in areas where staff see “80 per cent occupancy” on parking spaces during certain hours.

Meanwhile, the City of Ottawa has placed a no stopping sign in the area of 260 Dalhousie St. in the ByWard Market, leaving small business owners upset, as it’s a busy area. There used to be parking spots along the stretch of the road in the busy area of the ByWard Market.

• New no stopping sign on Dalhousie Street upsetting small businesses

In a statement to CTV News Ottawa Thursday the city said that the changes are necessary, citing OC Transpo’s upcoming New Ways to Bus.

“The changes to the allocation of road space on Dalhousie Street are required to both accommodate safe and efficient transit operations associated with OC Transpo’s upcoming New Ways to Bus network service change, as well as to mitigate existing transit service reliability concerns along this important corridor. None of these changes include bus parking,” said Katrina Camposarcone-Stubbs, public information officer, Transit Services.

“South of Murray Street, ‘no-parking’ regulations will be expanded on both sides of Dalhousie Street to accommodate safe and efficient transit vehicle right turns from eastbound Murray Street to southbound Dalhousie Street. This new transit movement is required as a result of a routing change to OC Transpo Route 9 included in the New Ways to Bus network change.

“Between St. Patrick Street and Murray Street, existing parking along the southern segment of the area is being reallocated to provide a dedicated southbound left-turn lane. This change will allow southbound traffic to bypass stopped left-turning vehicles to reduce delays to both transit vehicles and general traffic.”

Currently, on-street parking signage and road pavement markings are being updated on Dalhousie Street, she adds, noting that they will be completed prior to the implementation of the New Ways to Bus network.

• Here’s what you need to know about ‘New Ways to Bus’

With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Natalie van Rooy