163 replies to this topic

[Mike K.]

So there are currently 4.9M visits a year to the parks and the CRD expects that a $4 a day fee will generate $1.9M in revenue according to the TC article. So does that imply that the number of visits will drop from 4.9M to 475K?

Most will be going with at least one other person in a vehicle, so that’s cut down the ratio. People who live close to CRD parks walk there, but I doubt lots are going by transit.

[Victoria Watcher]

True user fees in parks would apply to all users

 

 

The “user fees” being bandied about for access to the best Capital Regional District parks aren’t really “user fees” — they are “driving fees” since they target parking.

 

According to reports, new “user fees” are being considered only for the CRD parks which are served by transit. So make way for dogs, strollers, kids, paddle boards and kayaks to ride on the bus.

 

Of course, we can be sure buses will serve all those CRD parks every 15 minutes. Ha, ha, ha.

 

One of the most popular parks, Thetis Lake, has service every 30 minutes and hourly on the weekends.

 

Here’s a challenge: Ask Google Maps to get you to East Sooke Park using B.C***. Transit. It qualifies as a present day saga.

 

No, if CRD parks need funding, then let’s introduce true user fees: Put a 10-foot fence around each of the CRD parks. Charge an admission fee to get through the gates and help pay for the fences.

 

 

 

Mike Mitchell

Saanich

 

 

 

https://www.timescol...service-7623259

 

 

 

 

*****

 

 

 

 

 

I kind of like the leave at 8:43am option.  27/28 > 39 > 61 > 64.   4 hours and 42 minutes, including a 1 hour and 8 minute walk at the end.  And a 1 hour and 3-minute wait for the last connector bus before that walk.  So say you leave at 8:43am, and spend one hour at the park.  You should be back by 8pm.  And you have saved the parking fee.  

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 30 September 2023 - 09:44 PM.

[lanforod]

so effectively for east sooke park, it is a user fee (per vehicle). 

[Mike K.]

If you get off at the Aylward Farm part of ESP it’s a short stroll to the park (25 minutes at most), where the big parking lot is.

[JohnsonStBridge]

Elk and Beaver Lake Park comprises the vast majority of visitations (~70% or 1.9 million) out of the 9 parks proposed to implement paid parking. The least visited of the 9 parks is Mill Hill with only 54 thousand visitations or a mere 2%. Devionian, Horth Hill, Matheson Lake, Sea to Sea aren't exactly crawling with visitors compared to the likes of Thetis Lake Park.

 

Based on the CRD estimates, Mill Hill would be projected to gross ~$100/day in parking revenue in 2024. Seems like hardly enough to cover the cost of enforcement. For the limited revenue the less visited parks are going to bring in revenue, it would be a lot more efficient to focus the parking fee implementation on Elk and Beaver Lake Park.

[Victoria Watcher]

^ agree.

[Victoria Watcher]

A controversial proposal to impose parking fees at nine regional parks, including Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park, has been put on hold for a few months while Capital Regional District directors gather more information.

 

On Wednesday, the CRD board voted in favour of asking staff for information about how parking fees are working at Thetis Lake and Sooke Potholes, the only two regional parks with fees in effect. The report would go to the parks committee and is expected next month. The CRD board also voted in favour of asking staff to prepare a report on a wide range of issues surrounding parking in regional parks, to come back in 2024.

 

 

 

https://www.timescol...for-now-7672156

 

 

Wouldn't that information normally be made available before they considered this?

[max.bravo]

You give government too much credit. They work much like any other organization- if someone has what seems like a good idea, they go for it.

But unique to government, if media/optics are very poor, then they’ll stall, backpedal to ‘do more research’, or reverse course.

[Ismo07]

Elk and Beaver Lake Park comprises the vast majority of visitations (~70% or 1.9 million) out of the 9 parks proposed to implement paid parking. The least visited of the 9 parks is Mill Hill with only 54 thousand visitations or a mere 2%. Devionian, Horth Hill, Matheson Lake, Sea to Sea aren't exactly crawling with visitors compared to the likes of Thetis Lake Park.

 

Based on the CRD estimates, Mill Hill would be projected to gross ~$100/day in parking revenue in 2024. Seems like hardly enough to cover the cost of enforcement. For the limited revenue the less visited parks are going to bring in revenue, it would be a lot more efficient to focus the parking fee implementation on Elk and Beaver Lake Park.

 

Enforcement is covered by 'other' (ahem) sources.  Fees really should be based on capacity around peak times.  Improving tech could really allow you to charge different rates at busier times of day.  Mill Hill may have fewr visits but are the lots smaller?  Do they fill up?  The amount of people maybe shouldn't matter as much.  Do they really have accurate counts about how many cars attend each park?

[Victoria Watcher]

Good points.

[dasmo]

Enforcement is covered by 'other' (ahem) sources. Fees really should be based on capacity around peak times. Improving tech could really allow you to charge different rates at busier times of day. Mill Hill may have fewr visits but are the lots smaller? Do they fill up? The amount of people maybe shouldn't matter as much. Do they really have accurate counts about how many cars attend each park?

And locals could buy a discount pass because we pay a lot of taxes.

[Victoria Watcher]

And locals could buy a discount pass because we pay a lot of taxes.

 

There is a plan for an annual pass.   

 

 

 

 

A seasonal parking pass would cost $30 in 2024, $45 in 2025, and $60 in 2026.

 

 

 

What the CRD should do though is brand this like a CRD Parks Supporters Club.  The pass gives members free parking of course, but 100% of the pass money is used to support CRD Parks.   Make it a transferable dashboard-shown pass (move between your family cars) and make it really clear that it's a supporters pass.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 12 October 2023 - 07:51 AM.

[Nparker]

A 100% price increase in 2 years? That's ****ed up.

[Victoria Watcher]

There is a plan for an annual pass.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What the CRD should do though is brand this like a CRD Parks Supporters Club.  The pass gives members free parking of course, but 100% of the pass money is used to support CRD Parks.   Make it a transferable dashboard-shown pass (move between your family cars) and make it really clear that it's a supporters pass.

 

And summer weekends get volunteers to sell the passes from a table set up in parking lots.

[Barrrister]

I have a better idea, fire about half the senior management of the CRD and then you dont need the income from parking. It is one fat bureaucracy.

[Victoria Watcher]

Whatever happened to the Island View Beach plan?

There is no information since 2017 on the plan page:

https://www.crd.bc.c...management-plan


Has it taken 7 years to review it?

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 03 November 2023 - 05:30 AM.

[Mike K.]

In your link, Tsawout First Nation said it’s their traditional land, and they will have a say in how it’s used: https://www.crd.bc.c...vrsn=ddf005ca_4

[dasmo]

Nothing wrong with the park as is. By management they mean pay parking I assume.

[dasmo]

In your link, Tsawout First Nation said it’s their traditional land, and they will have a say in how it’s used: https://www.crd.bc.c...vrsn=ddf005ca_4

Letter seems reasonable.

[Mike K.]

Yup.