Tom Bits - Parking Issues around Main St

Parking Issues Around Main St and Riverwalk Commons

One of Ward 5's most talked about issues revolve around the lack of parking. Issues about parking further arise when we bring into the mix the possibility of apartments or condos which begin to merge the two somewhat, but at the end of the day, we will have units with visitors and we do want more parking. So what do we do?

There are a number of options worthy of discussion, most of which have been covered previously in Council or by the other Ward 5 Candidates running, but they, without exception, cannot be implemented for some time until certain issues have been worked out, which could take years.

So for the purposes of getting to my point and without getting into ideas about the firehouse as an option or a heritage land swap with the town or even the tennis bubble - moving that facility to another - but instead I want to hone in on a complimentary idea that would go towards reducing the parking woes, and at the same time, create a few jobs and $ for the town coffers. How you ask?

Firstly, we set up a bike share program with bikes located at strategic spots, such as at the Tannery Mall parking lot, near the trail bike paths at the municipal building, at Fairy Lake, at Bayview Park,  Yonge St, near transit stops etc. Strategic locations. Such programs are operating successfully in places like Hamilton in cooperation with their Smart Drive initiatives and I feel our community would support such a program that relies somewhat on memberships to survive to do just that. Local bike shops could be hired to supply bike maintenance, of which Ward 5 happens to have just such a shop! This is something we could add immediately that could ease some of the congestion in summer, especially if combined with a mini train shuttle run from the Tannery Mall parking lot to Timothy St. along Tom Taylor Trail.

Read my platform to find out how we can avoid this happening in future Main St. development

Think about that. Why not use the Tim Hortons Train for a practical use on weekends by shuttling back and forth on that one stretch that could connect people from the empty Tannery Parking to the main RiverWalk Commons area? That's outside the box but it could work and a fun ride for families. And I'll bet the Tannery won't mind working something out to kick back to the town to help maintain the train shuttle I'm sure, instead of a near empty parking lot weekends - which I often see running for just fun anyway at town events so why not just change its route?

 

Ive already discussed with BIA reps and Car club members also about expanding the annual Car Show by 300 cars while shuttling overflow visitors from the Tannery using a shuttle from a car dealer sponsor- immediately adding hundreds of spots for out of towners.

After all the variables are in place - including fully knowing what we are working with - I will post my opinion on what I believe may be the best long term optIon . Until then there are just too many variables to speculate on, but to me a natural move has the tennis club moving to a new location, opening up a whole realm of possibilities. But meantime, my proposed measures could go toward reducing it.

Sparro did not survive parking and other woes. We need be proactive to find the right fits for around Main St.

I have real fear about the directions this mayor has blindly taken us down and question the motives behind his support for a 7 story addition to the town clock. This council needs someone actually from the area to help protect our assets and preserve OUR town's character and history.

To read my full scope of opinions on the issues and for more information on Tom Pearson, Candidate for Ward 5, Newmarket, Ontario, Canada then please click here.

Vote Tom Pearson for Council - I Really Do Care