🚗 Heads Up: Winnipeg Is Removing Parking Pay Stations (Starting July 2)

Just a heads-up for anyone who parks downtown or in public lots around Winnipeg: starting July 2, 2025, the city has started removing all the parking pay stations. The plan is to have them all gone by August 31. It caught a few people off guard, but there are some solid reasons behind the move.

💡 Why This Is Happening

• The old machines run on 3G, which mobile providers are shutting down.
• Replacing them would cost about $3.6 million; keeping them running costs $1 million per year.
• They’ve had frequent issues with vandalism and theft.

As Mayor Scott Gillingham put it:
“To continue on with the parking meters is like using VHS tapes in a Netflix world.”

📱 How to Pay Now

Once the machines are gone, people can pay in two main ways:

• PayByPhone app: Works on smartphones, online, or by calling in. Over 80% of people already use this method.
• Prepaid “Scratch-N-Park” passes: Paper passes you scratch like a lottery ticket. Mark off the date/time and display it on your dashboard. Each pass covers one hour and must match your zone type (“High-Demand” or “Low-Demand”).

Where to get Scratch-N-Park passes:

• The Parking Store (495 Portage Ave.)
• City 311 counters at 510 Main St. and 170 Goulet St.
• Available starting July 2.

No smartphone? You can still use PayByPhone by calling 1-888-515-7275. Register once with your license plate, location number, and credit card—it’ll remember you next time.

Note: Private lots and the Millennium Library parkade will still use their current machines.

⚖️ Quick Pros & Cons

✅ A Few Tips to Make Life Easier

• Download PayByPhone and set it up ahead of time.
• Pick up passes if you prefer cash or offline options.
• Help friends and family who may not be tech-savvy stay in the loop.