Charlottetown park-and-ride program launched

A new plan to ease parking in the downtown is being launched May 2 by the Charlottetown Area Development Corporation and T3 Transit.

For $50 a month, the park-and-ride program will allow people to park at the Charlottetown Event Grounds at the foot of the Hillsborough Bridge, and then hop a bus to the Holman Grand Hotel.

There is a waiting list of about 150 people for the 846 total spots at the Fitzroy Street and Queen Street parkades,CADC said. There's no wait list for the Pownal parkade, which can accommodate 408 vehicles.

As of May 1, parking at those garages will cost $100 a month plus HST.

The new park-and-ride service offers four options to get downtown between 7 and 9 a.m. as well as a noon bus. There are five trips to get back to the event grounds between 3:30 and 6 p.m.

CADC saysit takes about 10 minutes to walk downtown for those who don't want to take the bus.