The City of Saint John is reviewing its draft parking strategy for the South-Central Peninsula and is seeking public input.
The second public engagement session allowed residents to weigh in on challenges such as parking availability, enforcement, accessibility, and pricing—all factors shaping the city’s proposed changes.
Stefan Sirianni, the senior transportation engineer at Arcadis, is overseeing Saint John’s parking study, outlined the ongoing work and proposed policy changes aimed at improving space availability.
“A lot of people park in Uptown Saint John for the full day for school or work, and that leaves fewer spaces for short-term visitors. Pricing strategies can help balance demand and make parking more accessible when people need it,” he said.
Draft recommendations: What’s being proposed?
The city has outlined several proposed changes:
- Standardizing accessible parking regulations and signage to improve usability.
- Adjusting pricing policies to encourage turnover and free up spaces for short-term visitors.
- Exploring demand-responsive pricing to better manage parking inventory.
- Enhancing enforcement measures to support parking regulations in high-demand areas.
- Improving signage and real-time parking updates for better public communication.
Officials say these adjustments could help alleviate congestion, clarify parking rules, and ensure fair pricing.
Community Concerns & Public Feedback
During these public engagement sessions, several key issues emerged in discussions:
- Signage & Regulations: Many residents found meter rules unclear and questioned enforcement consistency.
- Residential Parking: Limited on-street parking is pushing residents into different zones, prompting calls for a review of overnight parking policies.
- Emergency Vehicle Access: Attendees raised concerns about winter congestion blocking emergency routes, particularly on streets with heavy on-street parking.
- Construction Impact: Extended closures due to development projects have reduced parking availability in high-demand areas.
Sirianni acknowledged the challenges posed by enforcement gaps and evolving needs in the study area.
“We’ve heard a lot about parking signage and enforcement issues. Improving communication and standardizing policies will help make parking rules clearer for everyone,” he noted.
Background & Study Findings
The parking study, launched in Fall 2024, assessed parking inventory, curbside regulations, and occupancy rates to identify problem areas and opportunities for improvement.
Findings include:
- More than 13,000 parking spaces in the study area, split between city-owned and private lots.
- High occupancy trends in Uptown Saint John, particularly along Prince William, Canterbury, and Germain streets.
- Inconsistent demand levels, with some areas overcrowded while others remain underutilized.
Residents can provide feedback until May 9, with final recommendations expected to go before the council by the end of the month.