There are about 52,000 parking spaces in the municipality of Chisinau, 4,000 of which were set up in the last four years. Meanwhile, the number of car owners has grown constantly and the demand exceeds the number of existing parking spaces. This situation generates numerous abuses, such as the unauthorized installation of road signs regarding reserved parking, restriction of other users’ access by installing barriers and chains. The abusive occupation of municipal land or the unauthorized construction of parking spaces affects the infrastructure of sidewalks, landscaped green spaces, playgrounds. Representatives of the General Urban Mobility Division told IPN about how the work of parking lots and parking spaces in Chisinau municipality is to be regulated.
Inventorying of parking spaces
The highest demand for parking places is in the central area, and decreases towards the peripheries. A total of 51,905 parking spaces are in the municipality of Chisinau. Most of them are in Râșcani district – 13,777 places, Ciocana district – 11,227 and in Center district – 10,558 places. At the same time, over 4,000 municipal public parking places were created in the last four years, most of them in Botanica district – 1,450 places. All municipal parking lots and parking spaces work on a permanent basis. The schedule of private paid parking lots is set by their managers, most of these being open 24/24.
The head of the Parking Unit of the General Urban Mobility Division Sergiu Popovici said that there are currently public parking lots in physical format, but they are not organized in legal format. Although insufficient, in the capital city there are parking spaces with free access on the side of the road, in specially arranged spaces. Those in charge announced that an inventory will follow and, subsequently, new lots for parking cars will be created. The position of the local public administration, especially the General Urban Mobility Division, is reflected in the draft regulations on the organization and operation of parking lots and parking spaces in the municipality of Chisinau. With the approval of this document, paid public parking lots are to be set up in the capital city.
Paid parking lots
All the paid parking lots in the municipality of Chisinau are private. The total capacity of these authorized spaces is approximately 11,000 places. An hour of parking costs between 20 and 100 lei, the fee being set by the parking administration, depending on the area and the demand for parking spaces. The head of the Parking Unit noted that the price is influenced by the overcrowding at public parking spaces, which are free.
In the case of public parking lots and parking spaces, the tax will be approved by the Chisinau Municipal Council. By implementing the new regulations and, respectively, by regulating the work of paid public parking lots, more free spaces will be created and it will be possible to balance the prices formed including in the private sector, stressed Sergiu Popovici.
Local parking tax
The initial version of the regulations said that the parking fee will depend on the geographical areas and will decrease from the center to the periphery. The deputy head of the General Urban Mobility Division Vladislav Pistol said that, during public consultations and as the Ministry of Finance recommended, the document was modified and the parking fee was replaced by the local parking tax. Consequently, the geographical parking areas were eliminated.
According to the head of the Parking Unit, the goal of the regulations is not for the municipality to earn money, but to decongest the roads in the city center, and car owners to use public transport. Sergiu Popovici explained that at the first stage, especially during the piloting period, there will be no differentiation by areas. The implementation will start in Centru district, where a single tax will be set. Payment instruments, difficulties in applying legal, administrative, contravention measures will be tested. The payments will come directly to the accounts of the City Hall.
The head of the Parking Unit noted that the draft regulations are expected to be submitted to the Chisinau Municipal Council in February. "We will make every effort to achieve the plans in 2025. We set the task of having the pilot projects launched," said Sergiu Popovici.
"Paid parking will be successful if we have an instrument of coercion in case of violation of the payment regime. So far, we hardly find such solutions, but we still have them," said the head of the Parking Unit.
Parking spaces for people with disabilities
For his part, Vladislav Pistol said that the parking spaces for people with special needs are set up and managed in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Social Inclusion of People with Disabilities. Quantitatively, this is at least 4% of the total number of parking spaces, but no less than two places.
The regulations on the organization and operation of parking lots and parking spaces in the municipality of Chisinau will allow people with disabilities to occupy any parking space and use the parking lot free of charge. The head of the Parking Unit also said that the symbol of disability can be seen on many cars, although the driver does not have it in reality. In this regard, a procedure has been designed: the possibility of using free parking lots should be offered after it is confirmed that the driver has a disability or is a companion of the person with special needs.
Digitalization of parking sector
The draft regulations are based on an electronic management system. A component part of it will be an application that will allow electronic payment of parking. An interactive map will also be launched. The head of the Parking Unit said that, at the primary stage, there will be implemented software that will allow the correct monitoring and information of drivers about parking spaces and rates. Sergiu Popovici assured that a useful and convenient solution will be found for any type of user, including those who do not have advanced IT skills.
Decongestion of streets
The local authorities intend to set up Park&Ride parking lots at the entrances to Chisinau, in the immediate vicinity of public transport stations, in order to capture the cars entering the city and encourage drivers to continue their journey by public transport. There are a number of decisive factors in this regard: provision of concessions for public transport, improvement of travel conditions, diversification of routes, expansion of the network of lanes dedicated to public transport.
Other important objectives, set by the municipality, are the construction of multi-storey parking lots in crowded areas and the creation of large parking lots and street parking lots within the city of Chisinau.
Milena Macarciuc, IPN
