Kitchener-Waterloo

Uptown Waterloo shoppers be aware: on-street parking has changed

On-street parking is no longer allowed along the northbound side of King Street between William Street and Willis Way, where the newly-installed Ion light rail track has been installed.
Cars are no longer allowed to park along the northbound side of King Street in uptown Waterloo. Ion LRT tracks now run along that stretch from William Street to Willis Way. (Contributed by: Stephanie Barth)

Changes have been made to on-street parking in the newly reopened stretch of King Street in Uptown Waterloo. 

On-street parking is no longer allowed along the northbound side of King Street between William Street and Willis Way, where the newly-installed Ion light rail track runs in that section of King Street. 

"The reality is, wherever there is a track, you can not park a vehicle," said Patti Brooks, executive director of the Uptown Waterloo BIA. 

"And that's whether or not the train is running."

The exception to that rule is for contractor vehicles; work is still underway on the overhead wiring – or catenary – system.  

On Saturday, drivers were still adjusting to the change, with cars parked all along the stretch between William Street and Willis Way. 

Free parking in 2 city lots

At the same time, two lots have been designated as temporary free parking spaces for the holiday season. 

Until Jan. 2, 2017, motorists can park for free behind the old Post Office at Bridgeport and Regina streets, and across the street, in a second lot.

There is no set time limit for parking in those two lots but, as in other municipal lots, parking is not permitted overnight between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. unless the owner has registered the car with the city's Park It and Leave It program.

This map, published by the Uptown Waterloo BIA, shows all the major parking lots in the area. Temporary lots A and B are free, with no stay limit, until Jan. 2, 2017. (Contributed by: Uptown BIA )