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Wednesday, March 11, 2009 Orono Weekly Times - 5 Council not sold on commuter parking lot Staff reported that last sumWard 4 residents would use mer, when the price of gas was public transit more if they had high, there was an increased a place along the bus route to demand from residents for park their cars, according to commuter parking in Ward 4 Local Councillor Gord Newcastle. Commuters are Robinson. For this reason, last currently using the June, Robinson requested Community Hall parking lot, council's support for a motion or parking on the main street requesting staff to look at and taking opportuniaway parkties for ing for commuter shoppers, parking according lots and t o report Robinson. back. Courtice Staff Councillor h a s Adrian looked Foster into the noted that matter and no money recomwas allotm e n d Proposed commuter parking lot ted for that GO commuter Transit parking should be lots in this year's budget; howrequested to investigate the ever, it would make sense to possibility of a commuter make provisions in the 2010 parking lot in Newcastle budget for that. Village or at the Highway "We often move forward 115/35, Highway 2 interon issues that are not in the change. budget," Robinson countered, At Monday's General "That is what our reserve Purpose and Administration funds are for." Committee meeting, Robinson Ward 4 Councillors Trim told fellow committee memand Robinson were alone in bers that even though transit is their support for converting not a municipal responsibility, the Newcastle property into a "Sometimes we [the municicommuter parking lot. pality] can lend a hand to Committee members opted to other agencies, to help the citseek support from GO transit izens of Clarington." and the Ministry of The municipality owns Transportation for the proviland on Highway 2 near sion of commuter parking lots. Wilmot Creek, earmarked for Mayor Jim Abernethy a park, which could be acknowledged the community enhanced to accommodate does need these types of facilcommuters, according to a ities to get people out of their staff report. It would cost cars and into public transit. approximatley $112,000 to According to Robinson, he convert that space into a paved supports commuter parking parking lot for 20 cars, or lots, in part, because the $53,000 for a gravel lot for the Orono/Newcastle Durham same number of cars. Region Transit route is in "It would behoove us to set jeopardy. This route does not that site up so people could currently meet the Region's carpool," Councillor Charlie criteria of four boardings per Trim said at Monday's meethour. The Newcastle/Orono ing. "I think we should move bus route, which operates two on it very quickly, especially runs on Tuesdays and since we own the land," he Thursdays, has a rating of 3.1 said. "It would be a benefit to boardings per hour. The have a car park area there, it Region will monitor this route just fits right in." for the next eight months He also suggested the before making a final decimunicipality look for other sion. potential parking lot sites to the west along Highway 2. photo M. Montgomery Mary Montgomery took this photo from her home in the Port of Newcastle of a coyote she spotted on the waterfront trail on Sat., March 7.