Thousands of drivers fined for not paying new parking meters in Westboro, Wellington West

Since the introduction of paid on-street parking in Westboro and Wellington West in September, bylaw officers have issued thousands of tickets.

Bylaw Services officers have buried drivers with parking tickets in Westboro, Wellington West and Hintonburg since the introduction of paid on-street parking last summer.

Last September, the city implemented paid on-street parking for approximately 700 spaces on Wellington Street West, Richmond Road, Churchill Avenue and adjacent side streets to encourage vehicle turnover.

The parking rate is $3 an hour.

Bylaw Services tells CTV News Ottawa that officers have issued 8,270 tickets for parking violations in the Richmond and Wellington areas since the implementation of paid on-street parking on Sept. 9.

“Following Council’s approval to introduce paid on-street parking in Westboro and Wellington West neighbourhoods, Pay & Display machines were installed in August, before being activated in early September. These changes were implemented to encourage parking turnover and better support local businesses by improving the availability of parking during peak times,” Jake Gravelle, associate director of Bylaw and Regulatory Services, said in an email.

“The new Pay & Display zone came into effect on September 3, and Bylaw and Regulatory Services (BLRS) officers issued warnings until September 8 to allow the public time to become familiar with the new regulations.”

The statistics show Bylaw Services officers issued 1,325 parking tickets in the Westboro, Wellington West and Hintonburg areas in September and 1,676 tickets in October. A total of 1,962 parking tickets were issued in November, 1,153 tickets in December, 1,198 tickets in January and 956 tickets in February.

The fine for parking in excess of the posted time limits is $70, with an early payment option of $50.

The owner of the Ottawa Bagel Shop says they’re seeing customers receive parking tickets.

“They see them going up and down the street,” Liliana Piazza said.

“People are like, ‘They’re coming.’ And then they go run out and try to pay.”

Piazza said the paid parking is making it “really hard to have a compelling reason for people to come out and enjoy your business.”

“The city, I think, totally missed the mark by adding yet another layer of friction for our brick-and-mortar businesses by implementing this paid parking,” Piazza said.

The manager at Thyme and Again said the paid parking is forcing customers to think about their experience in the area.

“Usually people here sit for hours, you know, to enjoy their coffee, a conversation. And that has been definitely something that they have to have in the back of their minds,” Alejandra Lizano said.

“Just like saying, ‘Hey, I need to run and put more money in my meter.’”

Paid on-street parking is in effect Monday to Saturday until 5:30 p.m. in the Churchill, Wellington Village and Hintonburg areas, Monday to Friday until 5:30 p.m. in Richmond East, and Monday to Friday until 7:30 p.m. and on Saturday until 5:30 p.m. in Richmond West.

Bylaw Services says there have been 274,857 transactions for on-street paid parking in the Westboro and Wellington West area since September 2.

“Demonstrating high compliance with the new Pay & Display system in this area,” Gravelle said.

“BLRS encourages motorists to review all posted signage and regulations before parking to avoid receiving a ticket.”

Paid parking is in effect in the following areas:

• Churchill: Churchill Avenue from Richmond Road to Scott Street
• Richmond West: Richmond Road from Broadview Avenue to Athlone Street; Danforth Avenue from Roosevelt Avenue to Churchill Avenue; Churchill Avenue and Roosevelt Avenue from Richmond Road to Byron Avenue
• Richmond East: Richmond Road and immediately adjacent side streets between Athlone Avenue and Island Park Drive
• Wellington Village: All parking along Wellington Street West and the immediately adjacent streets between Island Park Drive and Parkdale Avenue.
• Hintonburg: All parking along Wellington Street West and adjacent side streets between Parkdale Avenue and Breezehill Avenue.

On-street parking had been free in the Hintonburg, Wellington West and Westboro areas for years.

With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Dave Charbonneau

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