Winnipeg, MB - The public service is recommending that back-in, angled parking on Bannatyne Avenue become permanent and that it be expanded in the Exchange District to optimize the number of available on-street parking spaces.
“With the ever-increasing popularity of the Exchange District as a shopping, dining and entertainment destination for Winnipeggers from across the city, making the most of parking in the area is crucial to its continued success,” said Point Douglas Ward Councillor Mike Pagtakhan. “The new back-in, angled parking on Bannatyne is a better fit for residents, businesses, and visitors alike, and we would like to thank the businesses and residents of the Exchange District for their patience, participation, and feedback as this recent pilot helped us to improve parking in the area.”
Since July 2017, the City has been testing back-in, angled parking on the south side of Bannatyne Avenue between Rorie Street and Waterfront Drive. By changing the parallel parking stalls to back-in, angled parking, 10 additional parking stalls were added to this section of Bannatyne.
Feedback was gathered from stakeholders and the public during the pilot and reviews were generally positive. Additionally, the pilot found that traffic was not adversely affected by the change from two-way to one-way traffic on this section of Bannatyne Avenue.
McDermot Avenue from Waterfront Drive to Rorie Street has also been identified as a suitable candidate for back-in, angled parking, and the public service is recommending that it be converted to one-way, eastbound traffic with back-in angled parking this year, adding nine additional parking spaces.
With the construction of protected bike lanes along McDermot and Bannatyne Avenues this summer as part of the West Alexander to East Exchange Corridor project, and other bike lane projects in the vicinity, the public service is also looking at adding back-in, angled parking in a number of other locations throughout the Exchange to offset some loss of parking spots due to these projects.
The City of Winnipeg continues to explore other ways to increase available on-street parking in the Exchange District. Following an extensive review, the Winnipeg Parking Authority will be adjusting loading zones in the area in order to create an additional 33 daytime parking spaces plus 4 evening parking spaces. This is in addition to the 24 parking spots now available with the opening of the Alexander Docks parking lot in June 2017.
Reports regarding back-in, angled parking on Bannatyne and McDermot Avenues will be considered by the Standing Policy Committee on Infrastructure Renewal and Public Works on February 27, 2018.
For more information about the back-in, angled parking pilot, please see winnipeg.ca/angledparkingpilot.