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Why we need to think twice about adding more downtown parking...

 

I know a lot of people in Kamloops think downtown parking is a problem.

I've even characterized it as a problem from time to time. I've called it a good problem, a sign of a healthy downtown, but a problem nonetheless. 

So why do I think we need to think very carefully about adding new parking downtown?

My answer to this question centres around two concerns really. One is climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The most impactful measures we can take to reduce our personal greenhouse gas emissions is to drive less. Yes, electric cars are more and more viable and available. But, I believe we also need to think carefully about where we can find good alternatives to driving for transportation. It is so culturally ingrained in us to get in our cars. It important we think twice about this. It can be really helpful for our environment and our climate.

The second is that there is actually right now a surplus of parking spots downtown, even at the busiest times. This was confirmed by parking spot counts conducted recently in downtown Kamloops. Yes, these spots involve some walking sometimes. I wonder if people would really mind walking if they knew this was saving community money (to build more spots), helping downtown vibrancy (parking spots could be converted into pedestrian plazas, for example), and improving their own health.

I fully realize this is a difficult conversation potentially but it's an important one. I look forward to developing my own thoughts further and with engaging with lots of people on parking and transportation.  

 

Downtown transportation choices plan vote seemingly goes sideways, perhaps actually provides important learning....

After many months and a hundred thousand dollars, at this week's council "committee of the whole" meeting, city staff presented what most would have thought would be the final draft of the downtown Kamloops transportation choices plan.

Almost always, final drafts of plans are approved as there has already been a lot of discussion, debate, and decision points.

Reading through the final draft before the meeting, I had strong concerns the plan wasn't ambitious enough in enabling citizens to choose to shift from driving cars as a single occupant to other methods of transportation.

But I thought mistakenly that I would be one of the few council members with concerns.

At the meeting, many other concerns came out. Chief among them, in my view, were that the plan unfairly targeted drivers, that engagement on the plan was not adequate, and that the plan contained statements that were not in keeping with modern values and the local economy.

I've rarely seen a discussion like this. It was sometimes pretty pointed and emotional. Many council members were quite critical of the plan as it was written and presented. The vote to approve the plan was defeated 5-4.

This left us all, and probably more so city staff, a little beat up and at a loss. Did things just go big time sideways?

After this investment in time and money, what would happen to the work done to this point.

This was very much on my mind as council unanimously decided to refer further discussion on downtown transportation planning to the council development and sustainability committee. Hopefully, those of us who are on this committee can discuss and recommend downtown transportation initiatives that will get council approval.

The council discussion this week was actually immensely helpful. Every council member shared a bit more about their considered views and values. As we move forward to try to get overall council approval, we can hopefully craft a better and more durable set of actions and policies based on the robust, frank, and deeper dive discussion we had this week. I think we learnt a lot about how this council currently feels and thinks and thats very important learning.