Windhoek drivers should expect to pay more when parking in town, amid indications the City of Windhoek (CoW) is at an advanced stage of procuring a replacement parking system, a move which will do away with the existing coin-based system.
The procurement process of the planned system is already at the evaluation stage of bids submitted, with the new meters set to be procured on a supply, install, maintain and operate principle.
CoW Spokesperson Harold Akwenye confirmed the planned introduction of a new parking system in the Central Business District.
“The system is not new, but an upgrade to the existing. The current system is over 25 years old, and the Council is no longer able to readily obtain spare parts for maintenance purposes, the system has thus surpassed its useful service period. The existing mechanical meters are no longer industry practice as technology has advanced significantly over the past 25 years. Furthermore the current meters are coin operated and working with cash remains challenging,” he told The Brief.
The council plans will also see the current metered areas in the CBD extend between Bahnhof Street, Robert Mugabe Avenue, Lazarette Street, Jan Jonker Road, Tal Street and Mandume Ndemufayo Avenue.
“The area will be divided into three categories. Those areas having the highest parking demand (inner core of the CBD) will have the highest tariffs. The time these metered on-street parking meters remain active will not change, being from Mon. to Fri. 8h00 until 17h00 and Sat. from 8h00 until 13h00, excluding public holidays,” Akwenye said.
When quizzed on the negative impact that high parking fees will have on businesses located in the CBD, the CoW Spokesperson said the planned parking system will do away with the current abuse of parking spaces in the CBD.
“The purpose of on-street parking is to conduct short business varying between one and two hours and not longer, to encourage turnaround of parking to ensure parking is more frequently available. Currently motorists exploit the lack of proper working meters and stay on such bays for excessively long periods. As a result, bays remain occupied for long periods resulting in less parking being available for the customers to business in the CBD. The upgrading of the current metered parking is therefore expected to assist businesses in having readily available parking in the CBD thereby promoting access,” he said.
At present, the CBD occupancy is higher, a development which has contributed to parking shortages.
According to the municipality, the primary objective of the proposed parking system will be to maintain metered on street parking within the city to ensure desired turnaround of parking and occupation rates, generating revenue while minimizing losses.
Revenue from the City’s parking has declined from a high of N$751 212.58 collected in the 2011-2012 financial year to N$683 273.96 in the 2015-2016 financial year according to data gleaned by The Brief.
