Starting July 1, the Resort Municipality of Whistler will increase Day Lot parking rates, aiming to support climate action goals and enhance local transit services, RMOW said. The new rates will help the municipality reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by encouraging residents and visitors to consider alternatives to personal vehicle use, the municipality said.
“This will help us make some of the big moves necessary to meet our climate action targets by further encouraging us all to move beyond the car,” RMOW said.
The increased funds from parking fees will be directed toward expanding and improving bus services. The municipality said it also faces rising costs for operating the parking lots, including plowing, garbage removal, and line painting. It added that the new rates will ensure these services continue effectively while supporting transit investments.
As of July 1, 2024, the parking rates will be:
Hourly: $3
Daily: $18
Monthly: $108
Oversize: $36
For Day Lots 4-5:
Hourly: $2.50
Daily: $10
Monthly: $40
Buses (Daily): $40
“Raising parking rates means drivers bear the cost of personal vehicles, contributing toward helping us evolve and expand our transportation options for everyone. The alternative would be having all taxpayers bear the brunt of the cost of this much-needed climate action infrastructure,” RMOW added.
The municipality emphasizes that paying for parking serves as a reminder to reduce one’s environmental footprint, a crucial step to meet the GHG reduction goals by 2030. Whistler aims for 50 percent of all trips to be made by transit or active transportation by that year, addressing that personal vehicles are the largest source of GHG emissions in Whistler, accounting for 54 percent of total emissions.
“Moving beyond car-based transport to active transport and increased transit use is a key opportunity to reduce transport-related emissions,” RMOW said. “We know rate increases are never a welcome sight, especially with our current high cost of living. We hope this will encourage you to take advantage of our affordable transit and active transportation options or consider carpooling when you can.”
Q&A about rate increases
- Why are you increasing the monthly rate?
We are increasing daily, monthly, oversize and bus parking rates in the Day Lots.
To make the big moves necessary to meet our GHG reduction goals by 2030, we need to continue to invest in transit. This rate increase will go towards increasing bus hours, reliability and consistency to improve service for current users—and for those who are looking to shift towards more sustainable transportation options.
- Why now?
The provincial government has made a large investment to help us expand transit in Whistler. To move this important work forward, Whistler also needs to invest.
- Why don’t locals get a discount?
The monthly pass is for Whistler residents and employees only. At the adjusted price, the monthly pass in Day Lots 4-5 is the same price as four days of parking, while Day Lots 1-3 is worth six days of parking. Additionally, you can add multiple vehicles to one parking pass to help with carpooling. Split between friends, family or colleagues, this reduces the cost significantly.
- What will the RMOW do with the extra revenue? What will be the specific transit implications of this?
The additional revenue will go to the expansion of bus service in Whistler. For more specific information, check out whistler.ca.
- If the day lots are making all this money, why does it need to make more?
Higher parking rates enable us to continue to expand and improve transit service and active transportation, and can encourage behaviour change, such as carpooling. These changes are important as we work to reduce our GHG emissions.
Additionally, the cost of operating the lots overall (e.g. plowing, garbage removal, line painting) is increasing. The rate change ensures we can continue to operate the lots effectively, while also investing more in transit to reach our goals.
- I already have a pass that’s valid beyond July 1. Will I be charged retroactively?
No. Any pass purchased before July 1 will be valid. Passes purchased after July 1 will be sold at the updated rate.
- Why did you increase the monthly rate so significantly? Why didn’t you increase hourly rates? Or make the daily rates a more significant change?
Until now, we have kept the monthly pass very low as a benefit to locals. The daily rate went up last year (versus the monthly pass decreased last year), so this increase is about balance.
The monthly pass is still priced below market value, especially with the option to add multiple plates to passes to encourage carpooling. For a single-vehicle parking in Day Lot 4 or 5, the increase breaks down to be $0.50 per day.
- Why did you lower monthly rates last year only to increase them now?
Last year, we shifted to year-round parking rates in all our Day Lots. At that time, we temporarily reduced the monthly parking rate to give the community a break. Now as we look to invest more in transit to meet our goals and to keep up with maintenance and operating costs, we need to increase that rate.
- Why are you trying to reduce emissions by 50 percent by 2030?
Whistler is among the Canadian municipalities working to meet the Paris Accord goal to slow global warming by reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions by 50 percent by 2030. The expansion and optimization of local transit are among the six key ways to reach that goal, as identified in the Climate Action Big Moves Strategy.
- Are there more rate increases planned?
We are working with Whistler Blackcomb to better understand the use patterns of Whistler’s Day Lots. In the future, we hope to provide new rate options that reduce costs for carpooling and/or higher occupancy vehicles.