Concerns raised over parking changes at Cross Cancer Institute

EDMONTON- Changes to payment procedures at an underground parkade near the Cross Cancer Institute have some customers concerned.

Harry Wagensveld is no stranger to the Cross Cancer Institute. His wife is undergoing treatment, which involves them visiting the Cross Cancer Institute once or twice a week.

“They used to have a parking kiosk for the inside parking where you pay a deposit, and when you leave you get a refund if you haven’t used it all. When I pulled up (Wednesday) for our blood work and consultation, there was a sign there that says ‘kiosk is permanently closed,'” Wagensveld explained.

Now, those who use the underground parkade are required to pay at dispenser-type meters.

The parkade is owned by the University of Alberta. University officials say the change was made because it’s more convenient for customers.

“We received feedback from our clients that the number one, the most important thing for them when they’re parking is their ability to get in and out of the car park as quickly as they possibly can,” said Geoff Rode, Director of Operations at the University of Alberta. “In moving from an attended kiosk to the dispenser system, it allows traffic to free flow both in and out of the parkade, so it virtually eliminates all of the lineups.”

Wagensveld says the new system is not only inconvenient, it poses problems for patients.

“It’s not a hospital like a regular hospital. Most of the parking facilities are not for visitors that are coming to see somebody but, for patients,” he said. “The people who drive themselves here, many aren’t that mobile, so they have to park, go to the machine, get the ticket, come back to the car, put it in there and go inside.”

Wagensveld says it’s also difficult to judge how much to pay for parking, because his wife’s appointments at the Cross Cancer Institute aren’t always the same length of time.

“It’s not equitable, I don’t think, because you don’t know how long you’re going to be here. Either you’re going to underpay and chance a ticket, or you’re going to overpay and well, then you’ve overpaid.”

Rode maintains the change had nothing to do with money.

“The change is prompted strictly so that we can get people in and out. The parking rates, in fact, don’t change, they’re exactly the same as they used to be.”

The cost to park at the parkade is $15 per day or $1.75 per half hour.

Alberta Health Services says it is looking to meet with University officials to try to come to some sort of resolution for patients and their families.

Wagensveld would just like to see things go back to the way they were.

“I would like to see the kiosk return. I think it’s always better when you pay for what you get, right? Not having to guess and hopefully not get a ticket.”

With files from Shane Jones, Global News.

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