Study lays out options for SOEC parking

Council will hear the findings of the update to the 2015 South Okanagan Event Centre Parking Study at their meeting on December 18. Started last spring, the study was conducted to provide current information about parking capacity and demand at the busy complex and address parking and traffic pressures on the site and in the surrounding area.

The study proposes a series of options to consider in the short, medium and long terms. Some of the short-term options that could be considered in the next two years include installing signage, adding pedestrian crossings, and introducing time restrictions on parking at the Community Centre and on adjacent residential streets. These measures would direct traffic towards underutilized parking areas and away from the roundabout, increase pedestrian safety on site and encourage turnover in high demand lots.

Options to increase parking supply are proposed for the medium term or the next three to five years. These options include reconfiguring the Curling Club and Community Centre lots to add 32 spaces and developing new parking on the Eckhardt and Creston lots to add 72 spaces. A parkade has been included amongst the options for the long term or beyond five years. The study also recommends further work to develop Transportation Demand Options such as improvements to transit and shuttle services, more accessibility options as well as infrastructure for cycling. The City is planning additional workshops to confirm plans for Transportation Demand Management options.

The complete report is available at www.penticton.ca and in the Document Library at shapeyourcitypenticton.ca. Council is being asked to receive the report for information and will make a decision on the recommendations through the budget process.