Well, here we go - three days, and as the Mayoral race heats up, ward 4 chugs along with 11 candidates all pushing for the finish line.
I attended an all alderman forum on Wednesday, and our question (for the candidates in ward 4) was the following. My answer is also below. We were given 90 seconds, and the time limit was restrictive in getting the point across, however, I did try.
The City is promoting more active mobility choices like cycling, transit and walking as alternatives to a car, particularly to those that live on primary transit routes like Centre Street. Would you support reducing parking requirements for new development to further encourage and support these lifestyle options?
Ward 4 has a blend of Inner Suburbs (Highland/Greenview), Established communities (Huntington, Thorncliffe, Sandstone, MacEwan), and New communities (Hidden Valley and Country Hills). My goal will be to discuss, evaluate, and harmonize the needs of the few to blend and create the needs of the many.
With each new development come many challenges.
#1 – Create an area where people want to live, not need to live.
#2 – Make sure it is a part of the Calgary Pathway System.
#3 – Make sure the residents have the residential parking they require.
#4 – Create a balance of Small, Medium, and high density population where the residents are satisfied in their choice of home.
#5 – Make sure they have the feeder transit (initially), and community & commuter transit (Permanent) after the area has been populated. (mostly by dual income, dual car families)
If a home has a double garage, I believe, that there should be at least one street space available per home. (Do you ever have guests?).
I believe that if there is parking close to a feeder transit route (near a park or a green space), the residents, and possibly even not the residents will use it so they can wait in their car (usually idling) for the next bus, and then hop out (after all, occasionally, it gets cold in this city) for convenience and no parking fee. This is a safety issue – think back to the playgrounds of old – we were always taught – don’t run between parked cars – well, if the space is available today, near a feeder transit route, it will be used. Look at Edgemont Blvd and John Laurie (right next to a green space and park) – The city provided “Resident Parking Only” signs do not seem to have any effect.
The solution is not to eliminate parking, but restrict it. Whether it be permit or time limits, these areas are vital to the community. If the park is on a main thoroughfare or the BLVD/Drive that connects the community – eventually, snow removal will be a priority. The next solution is provide effective transit. Transit must serve the needs of the community. If a route is in place for commuters, should there also be routes in for students, shoppers and the seniors of the city. Why should every connection any citizen want to make be via a train.
If the transit system is in place, and the pathways are usable, we can have a great impact on the use of these systems. Reducing parking (where people do park), is not the solution. Restricting parking at key locations is a better solution.
Thank you, and once again, my name is Curtis Kruschel, and I am running for Alderman in Ward 4.
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