THUNDER BAY — Starting this week, drivers who park in a section of the downtown north core will encounter a new way to pay.
The Thunder Bay Parking Authority has installed multi-space machines that provide more options for paying.
It's replaced its old parking meters with eight units which can each accommodate up to 20 parking spaces each in the case of angle parking, and a lesser number when there's parallel parking.
The machines – which cost about $7,500 each – have been installed on one block of St. Paul Street, Cumberland Street, Van Norman Street and Park Avenue.
"We are working towards modernizing our operations," says Parking Authority Supervisor Jonathan Paske.
Paske described the new equipment as user-friendly.
Drivers parking on one of these blocks may need to do a short walk to get to the machine.
There they will enter their license plate number and the length of time they wish to park.
Payment can be made with coins, a credit card or a meter card, and there's no need to return to the vehicle since the system requires no slip to be displayed behind the windshield.
The transition on St. Paul Street and on Cumberland Street will take place on Thur. Aug. 19, where signs will be posted to notify drivers of the change.
Operation of the new machines on Van Norman Street and on Park Avenue will begin once new angle parking stalls are implemented in September.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the parking authority continues to offer motorists a 15-minute curbside grace period for pickups and deliveries in order to accommodate brief transactions at local businesses.
