Winnipeg’s Exchange District Expands Paid Parking Hours to Three

Starting October 1, 2023, visitors to Winnipeg’s Exchange District will benefit from an increase in the on-street parking limit, now allowing up to three hours of paid parking. This change, an extension from the current two-hour limit, will apply to several blocks surrounding both Red River College Polytechnic and the Manitoba Centennial Centre for the Arts.

The City of Winnipeg has implemented this adjustment to address the needs of students and arts patrons, who frequently require more than two hours to attend classes or events. Coun. Vivian Santos from Point Douglas stated, “One of the most frequent complaints we hear about is parking time limits in the Exchange District. We’re pleased to introduce these extended limits in select areas so that visitors can spend a bit more time enjoying the incredible amenities the District has to offer.”

The initiative will begin as a pilot program lasting one year. The city plans to assess how the extended parking limits impact availability in the area. For those paying via mobile app, there is an option to add an additional 30 minutes through a separate transaction, effectively increasing the maximum parking time to 3.5 hours.

Parking rules for evenings and Sundays will remain unchanged, with free parking available after 5:30 p.m. on weekdays and all day on Sundays. Saturdays will also see no alterations, allowing visitors four hours of parking—two hours free and two hours paid.

The City of Winnipeg intends to collect feedback during the pilot phase to evaluate whether the extended parking limits should remain in place after the initial year. This decision will take into account the experiences of visitors and the overall impact on the Exchange District’s accessibility.