Towering snowbanks make pricey parking permits useless, resident says

Last week's snow dump has left Calum Elliot paying twice for parking.

He already has an on-street parking permit for the area around his home on James Street in Centretown. It cost him $189 for this month alone.

But that permit is currently useless, since towering snowbanks block off almost every spot.

"I find it very unfair," he said. "If it was just one street that would be one thing, but it's that I can't park anywhere in my neighbourhood, and I'm forced to go into lots."

He figures he's paid more than $100 moving his car from one parking lot or garage to another, day and night. Sometimes it takes so long to find somewhere to park that he's late for work.

The city offered free parking alternatives during the parking bans it repeatedly put in place last week. It opened up lots by libraries, community centres and other municipal buildings, but that option ended along with the bans.

"Shouldn't they have other options as well for when the ban is over and you still have nowhere to park?" Elliot asked.

Alternatively, he'd like the city to allow him to use his permit further beyond his home — or reimburse him for the cost.

"When I contacted bylaw, they had no ETA on when this was going to be removed," he said. "It looks like it's going to take a very long time to be removed, so I'm not overly impressed with the response."

In an email response, city director of roads and parking services Quentin Levesque acknowledged the challenges that the recent snow dump is creating for residents.

He said crews are working around the clock.

"Snow removal is a complex, multi-day operation, and given the exceptional volume of snow received—nearly 70 centimetres in just five days—the process is taking longer than usual," Levesque said.

"We appreciate residents' patience as we work to widen roads, clear snowbanks, and improve accessibility."