Parking in Whistler

Frequently Asked Questions – Updated June 16, 2010

How many accessible spots are there in the Day Lots?

There are five designated accessible spots in Lot 1, nine in Lot 2, 10 in Lot 3, and 10 in Lot 4.

Have additional bylaw officers being hired for bylaw enforcement in the Day Lots?

One additional parking officer will be hired on a one‐year term. The presence of bylaw enforcement officers at Whistler's parks and beaches will continue to be a community priority.

Will SmartPark in‐car meters work in the Day Lots?

SmartPark meters currently work in all of the municipal lots and on‐street parking, except the Day Lots. The SmartPark device uses a SmartCard, which is loaded with a prepaid number of parking hours and is inserted into the SmartPark meter. The SmartPark meter is then placed inside the vehicle and displays the parking zone selected. The Smart Park meter is intended as an affordable option for residents, frequent visitors, and weekenders to park in the Village. Smart Park meters are available for sale at the Municipal Hall – Bylaw Services office.

A Pay By License/License Plate Recognition system was selected for use in Day Lots 1, 2, and 3 to enable the smooth flow of traffic into and out of the lots during peak times; relatively quick enforcement of traffic violations; and effective enforcement during snow events. The parking experience using this technology is intended to be fast, convenient, and seamless for resort guests and locals.

Will there be monthly passes available for the Day Lots?

Monthly passes will not be available for the Day Lots, when user pay parking is introduced in June 2010, but may be discussed as part of the comprehensive parking review in the fall.

The RMOW currently offers monthly parking stalls on level 4 of the Conference Centre. Permits cost $59 per month and are available at the Municipal Hall.

Does the daily parking rate include parking in the evening?

Yes, the daily rate for parking in the Day Lots includes the evening and allows for parking from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. A $5 evening rate is available for guests, who have not paid the day rate, and wish to park in Lots 1 to 3 after 5 p.m. The parking lots are closed from 3 a.m. to 7 a.m. for snow‐clearing in winter and maintenance.

What sort of Community Transportation Initiatives funded by parking revenue will be introduced?

The Resort Municipality of Whistler will be providing free transit service in Whistler on June 28, 2010. 2 In 2010, new community transit initiatives will include an early start to winter service to correspond with the opening of the mountain and "early bird" transit pass options. In recent years, an early start to winter service has not been possible due to budget constraints.

Is overnight parking or camping permitted in the Day Lots?

Overnight parking is not permitted in the Day Lots with the following exceptions:

1. Over height vehicles may park in Lot 5.
2. Trekkers on multi‐day hikes in Garibaldi Park (Singing Pass) may park overnight in Lot 5. No sticker or pass is required.

If you are parked overnight, you may be ticketed and towed.

Why is user pay parking being introduced now?

Moving toward a user‐pay system has been discussed extensively as part of the community's longterm transportation, Greenhouse Gas reduction, and air quality plans dating back many years. User pay parking has been introduced incrementally in the community and aligns with Whistler 2020 sustainability objectives, Whistler's Comprehensive Transportation Strategy, and Whistler's Long Term Financial Plan.

Whistler's Comprehensive Transportation Strategy was developed over three years by the Transportation Advisory Group (TAG), a committee of Council that includes members from Tourism Whistler, Whistler Blackcomb, the Chamber of Commerce, Ministry of Highways and at large community members, as well as members of the business community. User pay parking is equitable and efficient, and places the cost of parking on users rather than tax payers. In addition, parking revenue provides an opportunity to fund enhancements to Whistler's transit system.

Whistler acquired Day Lots 1‐5 from the Province in 2008. The Resort Municipality of Whistler's agreement with the Province states that these parking spaces are to be primarily for the use of people using the facilities on Whistler Blackcomb.

When will user pay parking be implemented?

User pay parking will be implemented in Lots 1 to 3 on June 28, 2010

What percentage of spots will be pay parking?

User pay parking will be implemented in 853 spots (in Lots 1 to 3) out of an inventory of 3,560 spots in Lots 1 to 8. 76 per cent of these lots (Lots 4 to 8) will remain free. In addition, 1,268 day skier stalls and 164 short‐term commercial stalls in the Creekside Parkade will remain free.

What are the parking rates?

According to the RMOW‐Whistler Blackcomb operating agreement for the day lots, the rates will be $8 per day during the winter ski season and $12 during the summer season.

Will there be an hourly rate?

There will be an hourly rate of $1.00 for the first hour and $2.00 for each additional hour.

Will there be an evening rate?

There will be an evening rate of $5.00 that will start at 5 p.m. Will there be monthly passes available for the day lots? Monthly passes will not be available when user pay parking is introduced in June 2010, but may be discussed as part of the comprehensive parking review in the fall. Will there be designated spots or special rates for carpooling? Whistler is working with the Jack Bell Foundation to designate premium parking spots for registered carpools. There is, however, no discount being offered for these spots. Sharing parking costs between drivers and passengers will automatically offer savings for groups.

Are there passes being offered for Whistler residents and employees?

Residents and Whistler workforce can continue to use Lot 4 free of charge on an "as-available" basis. However, everyone is encouraged to use the multi‐use Valley Trail, to take advantage of transit services to the Village, or to consider carpooling as a way of sharing transportation costs. While the priority for the use of Lots 1 to 5 is to provide parking for members of the public using the recreation facilities on Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains, it is recognized that a large number of parking spots are occupied by Whistler residents and workforce. Village employee passes are not being considered at this time.

Are the rates set in stone?

Parking lot rates and policies may be revisited and other options may be presented as part of the comprehensive parking review in the fall.

Will there be pay‐by‐phone options?

A pay‐by‐phone module may be installed at a later date, after initial testing of the parking equipment and system.

What are the community transportation initiatives?

User pay parking revenues are expected to provide a significant opportunity to fund community transportation initiatives. Options which are being considered include providing:
• An earlier start to "peak season service"
• An earlier start to the proposed Cheakamus Crossing neighbourhood service
• Separate Alpine and Emerald routes on winter evenings to offset some of the new demand generated by the Rainbow neighbourhood and to provide service to Spruce Grove in the evening
• A highway express bus from Emerald to Function Junction
• A Bayshores‐Upper Nordic Shuttle
• Brio winter only detour

These options were identified in the 1999 Whistler Comprehensive Transportation Strategy, the 2007 WAVE Five‐Year Transit Business Plan, and experience gained over the 2010 Games period. The options are being reviewed in consultation with staff, BC Transit, the Transit Management Committee, a committee of Council charged with managing Whistler''s transit system as well as members of the Transportation Advisory Group, a committee of Council that includes members from Tourism Whistler, Whistler Blackcomb, the Chamber of Commerce, Ministry of Highways, and at large community members and members of the business community.

Discussions with BC Transit are ongoing, and staff will present a preferred community transportation initiative to Council in the upcoming months.

When will these be implemented?

The goal is to introduce any community transportation initiatives or transit enhancements for the 2010‐2011 ski season. The reason for this timing is to allow for adequate discussion of options with BC Transit, review of funding models, and collection of pay parking revenues to pay for transit enhancements.

Who owns the parking lots?

The RMOW owns the parking lots. In January 2008, Day Lots 1 to 5 were transferred to the RMOW from the Province of British Columbia. The transfer was part of a larger 2010 Land Legacy Agreement and was conditional on the RMOW entering a maintenance agreement with Whistler Blackcomb, committing that the parking lots are primarily for the use of Whistler‐Blackcomb's visitors and constructing a debris barrier on Fitzsimmons Creek.

Who manages the parking lots?

The RMOW and Whistler Blackcomb have an operating agreement for Day Lots 1 to 5. Whistler Blackcomb is the parking lot operator responsible for the day‐to‐day management of the lots (including snow clearing and traffic management); The RMOW is responsible for pay parking equipment and operation (including the collection of revenue) and enforcement of bylaws and parking rules.

Will the parking lots continue to be used for event support?

Yes. The RMOW and Whistler‐Blackcomb agree that parts of the lots can be used to support significant or "signature" events (e.g. Crankworx).

Why was the pay by license system chosen?

This system was selected taking into consideration priorities for Whistler Blackcomb and the municipality. Criteria that were examined included:
• Traffic movements
• Delays and queuing
• Payment options
• Pedestrian movement
• Enforcement efficiency
• Disabled parking compatibility 6
• Security
• Potential equipment failure
• Impact of snow events
• Impact of vandalism
• Power failure
• Revenue from penalty charges
• Fee evasion
• Capital costs of equipment
• Operating costs

The pay by license/license plate recognition system is used in cities such as Amsterdam, Calgary, and Aspen, and was used during the 2010 Winter Games in Whistler Marketplace to enforce one‐hour parking. The system has several advantages including:
• Enabling the smooth flow of traffic into and out of the lots during peak times;
• Enabling relatively quick enforcement of traffic violations;
• Being a feasible option for enforcement during snow events;
• Having lower capital costs and operating costs than some other parking systems;
• Having less likelihood of equipment failure than some other systems.

In addition, the guest experience is expected to be positive using this system. The following is an outline of this process:
• Guest enters un‐gated parking lot and parks car.
• Guest unloads car and proceeds to convenient pay station.
• Guest enters license plate number and pays for parking.
• Guest returns from the day enjoying Whistler and leaves parking lot.
• While guest is visiting Whistler, bylaw enforcement patrols lot using license plate recognition equipment.

Will there be convenient user pay stations?

Parking consultants have recommended installing eight pay stations in Lots 1 to 3. The RMOW will be installing 20 pay stations for convenience to start. This number can be reduced and machines will be used elsewhere in the municipality, if they are deemed to be excessive.

What happens to parking lot data used by scanners?

Parking lot data of non‐violating vehicles will be deleted daily. Is this information used in the United States? Parking lot data will remain within Canada at all times. Is there user pay parking in other resort communities? Other resort communities have implemented user pay parking in a variety of paved, outdoor, and indoor lots in close proximity or within walking or shuttle distance to their ski hills.

What are the rates in other communities?

Examples of other resort communities offering a range of free and user pay parking include: Vail, Colorado ‐ $17/day parking; Deer Valley, Utah – free, $10, $20/day; Breckenridge, Colorado ‐ $10‐ $15/day (free in summer); Aspen, Colorado ‐ $8/4 hour; Park City, Utah – free, $5, $10.

How do the user pay rates in Lots 1 to 3 compare with parking rates in other municipal lots?

The following are the parking rates for other municipal lots:
• Gateway Drive, Greyhound Loop and North Shore Credit Union Lot ‐ $2 first hour; $3 second hour
• Main Street, Whistler Conference Centre (WCC) above ground lot, Blackcomb Way, Sundial Crescent, Village Green, Municipal Hall* ‐ $1 first hour; $2 second hour, $2 third hour, $4 fourth hour. *Exclusions will be made at tax time.
• Whistler Conference Centre underground lot and Whistler Public Library ‐$1 first hour; $2 second hour; $2 third hour; $4 fourth hour; $9 flat daily rate (Level 3 only); $5 evening rate (5 p.m. to 10 a.m. the next day); $58 monthly parking (Level 4 only)

Are there other parking options?

There are over 2,000 privately owned parking stalls in Whistler. Most hotels offer pay parking for registered guests and visitors. A number of private underground parking lots are located around the village and offer daily and monthly rates.

Parking Disputes

Only done thought the RMOW website: https://parking.whistler.ca/t2whistler/cit/index.aspx

Contact Information

More information about user-pay parking in Whistler can be found on the Resort Municipality of Whistler’s website whistler.ca.

Municipal Hall office: 4325 BLACKCOMB WAY, WHISTLER, B.C. V0N 1B4 WHISTLER TEL: 604-932-5535 FAX: 604-935-8109 TOLL FREE: 1-866-932-5535 EMAIL: info@whistler.ca Only answered regular office hours Monday to Friday.