City and Queen’s University offering free parking during COVID-19 pandemic
With the intention of supporting essential travel for residents and commuters, the City of Kingston is waiving hourly parking payments during the current COVID-19 pandemic, and Queen’s University is offering free parking to support hospital staff.
“We recognize that daily travel patterns for many in our community have changed and we want to ensure that parking remains available and accessible to those who require it,” the City said in a press release on Thursday, Mar. 19, 2020. “These parking changes are being implemented to support essential travel needs as recommended by KFL&A Public Health during this time.”
Hourly parking payments will no longer be enforced for public parking at both on-street parking spaces, surface parking lots, and City parking garages.
“All public parking will remain open to serve the downtown and hospital areas. Gates at City parking garages will be lifted to allow vehicles to enter and exit without making payment. These changes are effective immediately,” the City said. “Parking demand is expected to remain high in areas that surround hospitals, particularly for accessible parking spaces and short-term parking zones. We ask that residents keep in mind the needs of others when selecting a parking location and, where possible, park in areas that have lower demand.”
On top of this, the City is also lifting the overnight winter parking regulations as of Thursday, Mar. 19, 2020. Those regulations, which are normally in place until March 31, do not allow for overnight parking on city streets, which will now be allowed. This comes after the City lifted parking restrictions on Wednesday, Mar. 18, 2020.
“Other parking regulations will continue to be enforced during this time, with a focus on safety and transportation-related concerns such as accessible parking, transit stops, and no parking or stopping areas,” the City said. “The situation is evolving rapidly, and we appreciate the patience and understanding of the community as we continue to adjust City services in response to COVID-19.”
In addition, as part of the university’s growing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Queen’s is now offering free parking on two of its largest lots to heath care staff who work at the nearby Kingston Health Sciences Centre.
Parking will be now be available at the Tindall Parking Lot, located at Albert and Union streets, and the former site of St. Mary’s of the Lake Hospital, on Union Street, without permits from March 18 through April 5, 2020.
What about the under ground parking across from the kgh it should be free for hospital workers
Interesting! Queen’s lots are probably empty at this time of year any way. Besides, Ottawa lets you park unless there’s a snowstorm predicted on City streets. Even the pessimist that I am thinks that no parking on City streets overnight now is stupid. If a snowstorm does materialize, the City can rethink this idea.
I have personally called Queen’s Parking and they can be reached at 613-533-6979. They are not offering free parking in their underground lot across from KGH at this time. The staff member I spoke to made it clear that this would cause them to have to have a meeting to determine if they are even willing to allow the underground lot to be free. The news of this was super sad to hear…another company profiting during a time where people are not able to afford to pay for extras (WTG city of Kingston caring about your population and not charging :). Queen’s University needs to take a page from the same book of policies as the City of Kingston!!!!!
Many who work at KGH park in the under ground parking at Tindal field. This should have been free! Payment just went out April 1st and should be reimbursed. Many of us have partners who have been layed off and have significant hardship.