Downtown Parking Meters

QUESTION: RR - What did they transition from parking meters to the "SMART" parking system cost the taxpayers? I've asked some current councilors but they seem to be very elusive about giving me an answer . Makes my think the price was to outrageous to be revealed.


RR overall the new 'meters' are cheaper because the pay stations serve zones vs having an individual parking meter on every space. The old parking meters were sold off to the public.
The new system was first introduced September 2023, funded by the Municipal Sustainability Initiative Grant (Government of Alberta). According to rdnewsNOW: "The city spent $2.5 million to implement this system. Importantly, this entire cost was fully funded by a provincial grant".
Despite the constant issues with adaptation of the system by residents (particularly seniors) the overall cost will be lower than maintaining an individual parking meter on every parking space.
Any consideration of changes to the system and rates will be left up to the next council as part of Budget 2026.

I have to add: What frustrates me about your experience is that responding to citizen inquiries is literally part of their job. It would have taken them ten minutes to do what I just did—Google it for you (which I spent 10 minutes doing at 1:35am). Managing social media and emails are supposed to account for up to 40 hours of their monthly commitments. This is the issue with Council members trying to juggle a full-time job alongside their Council role. Who ends up being the priority?

https://elections.reddeer.ca/media/reddeerca/election/2025-election/2025-Candidate-Handbook---Mayor-and-Councillor.pdf
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