Canada/City of Winnipeg to get rid of parking meters this summer

The City of Winnipeg plans to remove all parking meters by August 31. Drivers will now have to pay for their parking using the PayByPhone mobile application, or by calling the customer service line.

This change comes at a time when Canada's mobile service providers are phasing out 3G networks, making the current pay stations unusable, says the city in a press release. The parking meters have also reached the end of their useful life, use obsolete technology and attract theft and vandalism.

The City estimates that replacing the pay stations would cost $3.6 million. By abandoning these machines, the City will also save over $1 million in annual operating costs.

It is still possible to pay for on-street parking using the PayByPhone service, which is available as a mobile app(iOS (new window) and Android (new window)), online (new window) and by telephone (1 888 680-7275). PayByPhone accepts debit and credit card payments.

More than 80% of paid parking transactions are currently carried out using PayByPhone, according to the city.

Those who prefer to pay by cash can still purchase prepaid parking booklets (formerly known as Scratch N' Park Meter Passes) at the Parking Store, located at 495 Portage Avenue. These booklets can also be paid for by debit or credit card, says the city.

Booklets can also be purchased between now and July 2 at one of the City's 311 counters at the Susan A. Thompson Building, 510 Main Street (first floor), or at Access St. Boniface, 170 Goulet Street (first floor).

Additional PayByPhone signage will be installed as the parking meters are removed, says the City.

Parking meters will begin to disappear on July 2. Pay stations located on private property will not be affected, and meters will remain in place in the Millénaire library parking lot.

Source: ici.radio-canada.ca/