Transit And Parking No Longer Free

For people heading out and about today you might want to ensure you have got some spare change with you as starting today Tuesday September 8th the City of Moose Jaw will once again be ticketing people at metered parking spots as well as riding the bus is going to cost you.

For those who drive the parking meters will once again need to be plugged as the Commissionaires are set to hit the streets with their ticket books. The move to start charging for parking at all metered parking spots was approved by Council at their August 24th regular meeting.

Don’t forget change for the parking meters as they are no longer free - MJ Independent file photo

Also at that meeting Council agreed that when Moose Jaw Transit re-starts it regular transit service today that fares will now be charged. The service will now be returning to its regular schedule after running on a reduced schedule but free to ride.

Transit has been free since late March as a means to assist people financially during the COVID - 19 pandemic. The transit service started off with few riders due to fears of the coronavirus and most businesses were closed or restricted in how they operated due to the Province’s declared State Of Emergency.

Transit returns to its’ regular schedule and will once again be charging fares - MJ Independent file photo

The State Of Emergency effectively shut down numerous businesses and was responsible for thousands of people temporarily being laid off. Depending on the employer there are people who still have not been called back to work.

Both Free Parking and Transit were offered for free as a means for the City to help out residents financially during the pandemic and also as a means to encourage people to come to the Downtown and shop at the restaurants and stores which were open or who were offering curbside service.