Steveston may become a little more accessible for people in wheelchairs if the city adds more “van accessible” parking spaces.
The City of Richmond is considering adding three of these parking spaces to Steveston Village.
Van accessible parking spaces are wider than standard accessible parking spaces, in order to accommodate side-loading vans for individuals using wheelchairs.
In a report to the public works and transportation committee, city staff propose repainting the lines of two existsing on-street accessible spots to fit a van as well as creating a van accessible spot in the city-owned public parking lot, all on First Avenue.
Repainting the pavement markings and adding signage for these spots would cost the city $3,700.
Currently, there are 33 accessible parking spaces in Steveston Village – including eight on-street spots, one public off-street spot and 24 spots in private off-street lots, such as pay parking lots or lots reserved for customers of an establishment.
Only two of the 24 private spots are van accessible, and are located in the Save-On Foods lot.
According to the report, the Richmond Centre for Disability told city staff there was a need for more van accessible spaces, including on-street spaces.
If approved by the city, staff aims to create the van accessible spots by summer.
The city will also “investigate concerns noted by RCD in the privately-owned parking lots,” such as faded pavement markings, non-standard signage and being unable to access an accessible spot because of items stored nearby.
The report on accessible parking spaces is on the agenda for Tuesday's public works and transportation committee meeting.
