THUNDER BAY — Parking could be banned on a section of residential road near the hospital, if a group of residents has their way.
Red River Coun. Michael Zussino is asking administration to see whether the south side of Sunrise Boulevard between South Creek Street and Golf Links Road be designated a no-parking zone, after residents presented a change.org petition with more than 240 signatures.
“While I've been on council, a few residents in that area have reached out and expressed concerns about the bottleneck formed by those 8 parking spots on Sunrise Boulevard,” Zussino told Newswatch.
He said residents believes that vehicles parking on the south side of Sunrise Boulevard between South Creek Street and Golf Links Road are encroaching past the no-parking zone, causing drivers to park on the other side of the street making it “very difficult to navigate in and out of that subdivision.”
During the winter months, the bottleneck is worsened by the snow.
“It's not easy to navigate. Operationally too, it becomes an issue with snowplowing because if those cars are parked there then you can't do a good job,” Zussino said.
Zussino said it’s likely that people are parking on Sunrise Boulevard because of its proximity to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Science Centre.
“Save the $30 or $40 the cost of parking fees, people seem to be very averse to that. I'm not sure I know why, but again, some people want the exercise, whatever their motivation is," he said. "But ultimately, if this is causing some safety concerns in the neighbourhood.”
In his memorandum to council, Zussino said he had spoken with the city’s traffic technologist and municipal parking services to better understand the history of parking in this area.
“Initially when it was instituted, it was before all this new construction taking place. Things are different now. Maybe, it’s time to reevaluate and see if something needs to be done,” said Zussino.
He said if a no-parking zone was created on the south side, their main concern would be that people would start parking further inside the subdivision.
“So, the devil you know versus the devil you don't,” said Zussino.
“I'd like to see them at least look at it,” he added.
