'A little bit harsh': Fee increases for residential parking permits not sitting well with Calgarians
Some Calgarians are expressing concerns over the city's new pay structure for residential parking permits.
In a recent email to some residents, the Calgary Parking Authority said, "You are receiving this email as a result of the policy changes to the residential parking permit program that were approved by council in January 2021, following two years of engagement with Calgarians. The revised program aims to increase street-use efficiency and fairness, support businesses and be better positioned for long-term sustainability."
According to the city's website, residents of a "ground-oriented dwelling" will need a residential parking permit and will be on the hook for $50 per year for a first permit, $75 per year for a second permit and $125 per year for a third permit.
There is also a "select permit" for those living in small multi-residential buildings and larger ones built before 1945, who will pay $75 per year.
And a "market permit" for those living in large multi-residential buildings built after 1945, who will pay $150 per month if it's city centre, $100 per month if it's inner city or $75 per month if it's suburbs.
A low-income permit priced at $6.25 per month is available for the latter tier.
Chris Blaschuk, manager of the Calgary Parking Authority, says the city came up with the fee structure in 2020.
"The fee schedule is designed to be revenue-neutral and cover the costs of the program," he said.
"Revenues from parking are generally returned to the city to fund different initiatives and priorities of city council."
He says there are residential parking zones all over the city, typically around where there is a concentration of traffic at certain times of day, near LRT stations, hospitals, universities and within communities in the inner city.
"It really gives them priority access to the parking in areas where there's lots of parking congestion," he said.
"And that certainly is maintained with the changes to the program. We're recovering the fee directly from those users rather than subsidizing it from the balance of the parking program."
Eric Winter has lived in the southeast community of Auburn Bay for eight years and doesn't like it.
He's retired and living on a fixed income.
"Now, you have to pay for all of that," he said.
"You have to pay for the car, you have to pay for visitor parking on top of that."
Winter says the visitor permits also cost $75 each and the permit system was brought into his neighbourhood when the South Health Campus opened.
"So it was people that are going to visit the hospital and they take up all the street parking and then you can't park anywhere except blocks away from here," he said.
"That's why they put the permit parking into effect."
Kae Rieger and Patrick Dumas live in the community of Mission and say it's always a challenge to park.
"I work early in the morning," Dumas said.
"So I kind of luck out that I'm home by 10:30 or 11, so usually once I park, I don't move and I just walk around here to get my stuff but yeah, I do get a lot of anxiety with losing a parking spot."
Rieger doesn't like paying more for something that was free and questions where the revenue for the permits will end up.
"Paying extra when you already pay so much to live down here, it's a little bit harsh," she said.
"In the summer, especially when it comes to parking near the river, it gets impossible to do anything. We choose to not do certain things in order to just, like, keep the spot."
The city says any current permits expiring between May 23 and Sept. 30, will automatically be extended until Sept. 30 and there is no need to renew at this time.
Starting Aug. 1, residents may be able to renew or apply for and purchase a parking permit at the new fee structure.
You can learn more about the residential parking permit program at calgary.ca/rpp.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories

U.S. assassination attempt charges 'confirm' Trudeau's claims about India had 'real substance,' former national security advisers say
The indictment of an Indian national for the attempted assassination of a Sikh separatist and dual U.S.-Canadian national 'validates' Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations that the Indian government may have been involved in the killing of a Canadian citizen as having 'real substance,' according to two of Canada's former national security advisers.
7.6 magnitude earthquake strikes off the southern Philippines and a tsunami warning is issued
A powerful earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 struck Saturday off the cost of the southern Philippines island of Mindanao and Philippine authorities issued a tsunami warning.
BREAKING Bonnie Crombie wins Ontario Liberal leadership after 3 rounds of voting
Ontario Liberals have selected Bonnie Crombie, a three-term big city mayor and former MP who boasts that she gets under Doug Ford’s skin, as their next leader to go head to head with the premier in the next election.
Search for runaway kangaroo in Ontario continues
The search continues for the kangaroo that is hopping around somewhere in Ontario after it escaped zoo handlers from a transport truck Thursday night.
What was a hospital like in medieval times? Researchers analyzed 400 skeletons to find out
In medieval times, hospitals took care of the 'poor and infirm,' but how were inhabitants selected and what were their lives like? Researchers analyzed 400 skeletons to find out.
Hoopla expected to hit new heights as Sinclair's farewell game in Vancouver nears
Canada's lopsided 5-0 win over an experimental Australia side in the rain Friday at Starlight Stadium and the hoopla surrounding it provided a taste of what is to come in Christine Sinclair's farewell game at B.C. Place Stadium.
'Big, dark canvas of despair': Rick Hansen speaks on how his mindset changed after being paralyzed
Rick Hansen's life changed the day he was told he'd never walk again, but instead of letting his disability stand in his way, he became an advocate for accessibility rights and a Paralympic Athlete. Here's how that happened.
'Every tool at our disposal': Lawyers submit amended application to challenge Sask. pronoun legislation
LGBTQ2S+ advocates are not backing down in their legal fight against the Sask. Party’s Parents’ Bill of Rights, submitting an amended application against the legislation on Friday evening.
Amid housing crisis, jail seen as preferable to living on the street
Michael Keough has to pause in the middle of his phone call from Newfoundland and Labrador's largest jail to cough and wipe his eyes -- there's black mould on the wall where the phones are, he explains, and it irritates him after a while.