Businesses bristle at idea of removing 3rd Avenue parking spots to make way for BRT

Some downtown business owners on Third Avenue are worried about a proposal that would see some parking spots on the street eliminated to make way for Saskatoon'sbus rapid transit (BRT) system.

The city has chosen Third Avenue as a core artery of its proposed $120-million BRT system but is still finalizing exactly how the route would look on the street.

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One option publicly displayed earlierthis year would see all of the street's current 152parking spots removed.

"I think because transit has operated down Third Avenue for years, nobody could assume or envision what BRT could look like on this street or any other street until plans were shown in February. That's when things took off," said Brent Penner, the executive director of the downtown business improvement district.

"Virtually everyone I've spoken to" is against the idea, added Penner.

'Bread and butter is on the line'

Don Richardson, the owner of Creative Compliments, a flowershop near the corner of 22nd Street and Third Avenue, says he needs parking spots for his deliveries, which account for up to 30 per cent of his business.

He also says restaurants on the street that rely on SkipThe Dishes.com need the spots too.

"Our bread and butter is on the line," Richardson said Wednesday in front of his business, which has been on Third Avenue for 15 years.

Richardson said he'd have to move his business if the plan moves ahead.

'Recognize that there's a lot at stake'

The city has yet to finalize its plans. It was meeting with businesses on Wednesday to discuss options.

Chris Shulz, the special projects manager for the city's growth plan, said he felt some people came out of thenoon-hour meeting feeling less concerned due to more information being shared there.

For example, the city is looking at converting a nearby bus village to new parking to offset the loss of parking spots from Third Avenue.

"The meetings are important park of our overall stakeholder engagement," said Shulz."We certainly recognize that there's a lot at stake for many of these businesses and their interests are very important and we don't take that lightly at all."

The city hopes to finalize the street configuration for the BRT system this summer.