Image: courtesy City of Moncton

Moncton’s often controversial overnight winter parking ban is getting an overhaul for the upcoming season.

A pilot project has been unveiled which would see an overnight ban in place only when a storm is coming.

Moncton public works director Don Morehouse outlined the changes to city council during Monday’s Committee of the Whole meeting.

“The trigger would obviously be when conditions warrant us to lift the ban or reinstate it and what drives them typically is the winter events that come at us which we have the ability to forecast. Also, any operations such as removing and hauling snow could institute a ban.”

Morehouse noted the city would make a decision by 3 p.m. and residents would be informed by 3:45 p.m.

The onus would be on drivers to get informed and notifications would be posted on the city’s website, social media channels, radio stations and the Moncton Alerts system via text or email.

Any parking ban would run from midnight to 7 a.m.

Under the plan, the city would be divided into three zones: downtown core, immediate areas surrounding the two hospitals and the rest of the city.

A similar pilot project began in downtown Moncton in 2016 and this is essentially a citywide expansion.

Morehouse said the change comes given the increased demand for overnight on-street parking during winter when conditions allowed.

Currently, Moncton’s overnight on-street winter parking ban runs from midnight to 7 a.m. from December 1 to April 15.

The matter is now expected to come before an upcoming council meeting for approval.