Green P parking rates increases proposed across the city
Off-street parking rates approved while on-street metered parking spots will be considered for increases by council.

TheStar.com
Sept. 18, 2017
Jennifer Pagliaro

Green P parking rates are set to rise across the city, both on street and in off-street lots and garages.

A report headed to government management committee next week proposes hourly rates at some metered, on-street spots increase by 25 to 30 per cent.

The following changes are proposed:

• Increasing the hourly rate from $4 to $5 for 928 spaces
• Increasing the hourly rate from $3 to $4 for 2,828 spaces
• Maintaining a $3 hourly rate for 631 spaces
• Increasing the hourly rate from $2.25 to $3 for 5,510 spaces
• Decreasing the hourly rate from $2.25 to $2 for 480 spaces
• Increasing the hourly rate from $2 to $3 for 792 spaces
• Maintaining a $2 hourly rate for 1,657 spaces
• Increasing the hourly rate from $1.50 to $2 for 4,401 stations
• Maintaining a $1 hourly rate for 1,503 spaces
• Eliminating the $1.50 hourly rate completely

The areas where a $4 to $5 increase is proposed are centered in the Financial District, and those recommended for increase from $3 to $4 are in the downtown core surrounding the Financial District and the Yonge St. corridor in North York.

The Toronto Parking Authority, which is responsible for the Green P spaces, is also proposing extending paid parking in select areas from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., including on weekends. Those areas would include College St. between Brock Ave. and Ossington Ave. and on Danforth Ave. between Donlands Ave. and Woodbine Ave.

All of the changes require council approval at a meeting next month.

The authority considered increases based on areas with high usage in 2016 compared to 2015. The rates, depending on the area, haven’t been adjusted for inflation since 2007 and 2012. The Toronto Consumer Price Index (CPI) has increased about 7.6 per cent and 18.6 per cent in those periods, according to the report.

On Sept. 18, the Toronto Parking Authority board approved rate increases at off-street parking facilities. The largest increases of 50 per cent will affect four facilities, with a total 65 parking spaces or 0.3 per cent of the total off-street inventory.

Interim president Andy Koropeski told the board the rates are reviewed each year and their function is to cater to short-stay demand and support and serve local business areas.

“In conjunction with the city’s policies we’re not intending to attract commuter parking in our Green P lots or to serve long-stay demand,” he said.

The rate increases do not affect residential permitted parking.