Service NL
Advanced Education and Skills
September 12, 2014
Promotion of Blue Zone Parking Spaces Strengthens Communities
New Partnership Promotes Education and Awareness of Blue Zone Parking
A new partnership between Service NL and the Coalition of Persons with Disabilities – Newfoundland and Labrador (the Coalition) will help promote education and awareness of the proper use of blue zone parking spaces, including the correct installation of signage, for businesses and municipalities.
“In 2012, Service NL strengthened regulations for blue zone parking requiring spaces to be clearly identified with permanent signage and kept in good repair. Although many businesses have complied with these changes, others have not achieved full compliance yet. I am pleased that with this new partnership with the Coalition, we can draw on their knowledge and expertise to further raise awareness and improve compliance.”
- The Honourable David Brazil, Minister of Service NL
Service NL is entering into a contract with the Coalition to develop promotional materials and host information sessions for businesses, municipalities and the general public. The total cost of the contract is $25,800 with Service NL also providing printing services for the promotional materials.
“The Coalition will work in partnership with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, our business community and service providers to improve the provision and management of accessible parking throughout our province. Currently, over 19,000 blue permits are issued in our province for blue zone parking. With our aging population, it is likely that the number of people who require accessible parking in the future will increase.”
- Kelly White, Executive Director, Coalition of Persons with Disabilities
The Coalition will collaborate with the Buildings Accessibility Advisory Board, which reports directly to the Minister of Service NL, in developing materials and information sessions.
“I am very pleased that the Provincial Government is taking this opportunity to support the promotion and awareness of blue zone parking within our province. I believe it is important for the public to understand how essential these parking spaces are in creating independence and enabling people with disabilities to be fully included within their communities."
- Cecilia Carroll, Chairperson, Buildings Accessibility Advisory Board
Blue zone parking is essential to greater inclusion and participation across the province. Since 2012, public buildings have been required to clearly identify parking spaces through permanent signage, and ensure the signage is kept in good repair.
“This project is another great example of how collaboration with the community of persons with disabilities is helping to advance inclusion and remove barriers. I look forward to further opportunities to collaborate with the Coalition and others to advance our provincial Inclusion Strategy - helping us move closer to our goal of a society where everyone has a role to play to ensure equal opportunities and choices.”
- The Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Minister Responsible for the Status of Persons with Disabilities
Access. Inclusion. Equality, a strategy for the inclusion of persons with disabilities is designed to bring about substantive change within policies, services, programs and attitudes.
QUICK FACTS
- Service NL and the Coalition of Persons with Disabilities – Newfoundland and Labrador have entered into a partnership to raise awareness of the proper installation of blue zone parking signage and the use of these spaces by people with proper permits.
- The contract will total $25,800 in addition to printing services.
- Changes to the Buildings Accessibility Regulations were made in 2012 to strengthen the requirement for signs identifying spaces designated as blue zone parking.
- Companies that violate these signage requirements could face fines between $1,000 and $25,000 while fines for individual building owners range from $500 to $5,000.
- Amendments to the Designated Mobility Impaired Parking Regulations under the Highway Traffic Act also increased fines for illegal parking to between $100 and $400, up from the previous fine range of $45 to $180.
-30-
|
Media contact: Vanessa Colman-Sadd Director of Communications Service NL 709-729-4860, 682-6593 vanessacolmansadd@gov.nl.ca |
Kelly White Executive Director Coalition of Persons with Disabilities – Newfoundland and Labrador 709-722-7011 |
| John Tompkins Director of Communications Department of Advanced Education and Skills 709-729-0753, 728-7762 jtompkins@gov.nl.ca |
2014 09 12 11:55 a.m.