Downtown Winnipeg parking rates set to increase Sunday

Winnipeggers will soon be spending more to park on downtown streets.

On-street parking rates will increase by $1.50/hr on April 1. That is nearly double the current price.

READ MORE: Comparing Winnipeg’s proposed parking rates to other Canadian cities

Right now parking rates in the city centre range from $1 to $2, so parking rates will increase to as much as $3.50 an hour, equating to roughly $28 a day.

The city said the change will take between six to eight weeks to fully implement, as each individual pay station needs to be reprogrammed manually.

Drivers will be able to tell if the new rate is in effect by looking for a rate card on the pay station.

“A temporary sticker will also be placed on the front of a pay station to indicate there are new prices in effect when that pay station is updated,” read a release. “In addition, the Winnipeg Parking Authority will post and update a map online daily (weekdays only) indicating which pay stations have been updated.”

READ MORE: City reviewing free Saturday parking practices and not enforcing tickets

One way drivers can avoid the increased fee, at least in the meantime, is by using the city’s pay-by-phone app which will charge the old rate.

Once all of the pay stations have been updated, the new rate will change on the app.

Also beginning April 1, the early payment discount for parking offences will be changed from 50 per cent to 25 per cent of the fine.

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The Winnipeg Parking Authority expects to rake in an additional  $750,000 from changing the fine discount.