Windsor Council Approves Major Downtown Parking Overhaul with Free Evening Hours
In a significant policy reversal, Windsor city council has voted to implement sweeping changes to downtown parking regulations during 2026 budget deliberations. The decision comes after facing a proposal from Windsor's mayor to extend metered parking enforcement until 9 p.m., which council ultimately rejected in favor of a more visitor-friendly approach.
Extended Free Parking Hours and New Spaces
The council's unanimous vote establishes that metered parking will now be free after 6 p.m., effectively reversing a budget decision from the previous year that had extended ticketable hours by one hour to 7 p.m. This move represents a substantial shift in the city's parking strategy, prioritizing accessibility for evening visitors and downtown patrons.
In addition to the extended free parking hours, the city is creating 249 new street parking spaces throughout the downtown core. This expansion will bring the total number of on-street parking spots to 864, significantly increasing capacity for both residents and visitors.
Pricing Changes and Payment Methods
The new parking regulations include adjustments to pricing structures based on payment methods. Those who choose to pay with cash will now spend $2.50 per hour to park, representing a $0.25 increase from previous rates. However, drivers who utilize the Passport Canada parking app will continue to pay the current rate of $2.25 per hour, creating an incentive for digital payment adoption.
The city is also pursuing technological advancements in parking payment systems. Bill Kralovensky, manager of transportation operations, revealed that Windsor is actively working to implement Apple Pay and Android Pay compatibility for metered parking. Kralovensky has been "hounding" Passport Parking—the company that operates the parking payment app used by the City of Windsor—to expand their smartphone payment service into Canada, as it is currently only available in the United States.
Strategic Parking Space Creation
The additional parking spaces will be created through innovative urban planning strategies. A staff report estimates that approximately 148 new parking spots can be generated by converting "unused" traffic curb lanes into parking spaces on several downtown streets, including Bruce Avenue, Caron Avenue, Church Street, Glengarry Avenue, Goyeau Street, McDougall Street, and University Avenue East.
Where road widths permit, the administration proposes replacing parallel parking with angled parking configurations to maximize capacity. This approach would transform 49 spaces into 107 parking spots on Chatham Street East and convert 96 spaces into 139 on Pitt Street, dramatically increasing parking availability in these high-traffic areas.
Improved Parking Turnover and Enforcement Efficiency
The city's parking report indicates that the increase in paid parking spots will serve multiple purposes beyond mere capacity expansion. According to the document, the additional metered stalls "will also serve to discourage long-term occupation of high-demand curbside spaces, improving availability for visitors and customers due to improved parking turnover."
Remarkably, the city's existing parking enforcement resources will be able to accommodate the increased number of parking spaces without requiring additional operating costs. The report explains that "by increasing the number of metered stalls within the same enforcement window, enforcement efficiency and compliance outcomes are improved without incurring additional operating costs."
Unanimous Support for Downtown Development
Ward 3 Councillor Renaldo Agostino, who represents Windsor's urban core and had requested the comprehensive parking review, expressed enthusiastic support for the changes. "The best part of it for me is knowing that council unanimously continues to support downtown," Agostino stated.
He further elaborated on the collaborative nature of the decision, noting that "even though this parking move affects more than just downtown, it's nice to see that council came together, and the mayor came together, to take an idea that some say was out-of-the-box and put it forward."
The combined approach of extended free evening parking, increased downtown parking capacity, and strategic pricing adjustments represents a comprehensive effort to revitalize Windsor's urban center while balancing revenue generation with visitor accessibility.
