MONTREAL — The borough of Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (CDN-NDG) has announced a significant reversal regarding its controversial parking meter expansion on Sherbrooke Street West. Following a wave of intense opposition from local residents and business owners, officials have decided to scale back the project significantly. The revised plan will see the number of proposed parking meters cut in half, with only 250 units now scheduled for installation instead of the much larger rollout initially planned.
Acting borough mayor Sonny Moroz confirmed that several key areas have been entirely removed from the expansion map to address specific community grievances. Specifically, meters will no longer be installed on the residential side streets west of Décarie Boulevard. Furthermore, the main commercial stretch of Sherbrooke Street West situated between Grand Boulevard and Beaconsfield Avenue will also remain free of the new devices. Moroz stated that the decision was made to honor the feedback received through various petitions and public meetings, ensuring the local quality of life is not compromised.
The borough maintains that the primary objective of the program is to improve parking availability and support the commercial vitality of the district by encouraging vehicle turnover. To ensure the community benefits directly from the change, a portion of the revenue generated from the remaining 250 meters will be reinvested into local road improvements and infrastructure projects. These efforts will be coordinated in partnership with local business associations to ensure the funds target the most critical neighborhood needs.
Installation of the new equipment is slated to begin in mid-May, with the system expected to become fully operational by June. Recognizing that the new regulations will require an adjustment period for local drivers, borough officials have promised a grace period. During this time, warnings will likely be issued instead of fines to give motorists the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the new zones before strict enforcement begins.
