Riga residents frustrated as paid parking on Tomsona Street stays closed with no repairs in sight
Residents of Tomsona Street in Riga complain that paid parking spaces they've subscribed to remain closed for repairs that weren't actually happening. After public attention on social media, the situation reportedly began to improve.
Residents living on Tomsona Street in Riga have voiced frustration after several paid parking spaces were closed on August 11 for planned repair works that, for days, showed no visible progress. People who pay for parking subscriptions said they were unable to park their vehicles despite having paid for the service.
One resident described the situation on social media, noting that as of August 17 — six days after restrictions were put up — the spaces remained empty with no sign of work being done. She questioned whether subcontractors were being properly supervised and why residents should pay for a service they could not fully use.
Situation shifts after public attention
After the resident's post mentioned public transport operator Rīgas Satiksme by name, she said the situation changed quickly: the contractor began restricting the empty spaces and started cutting into the asphalt. She remained skeptical of the company's explanation, however, claiming that six spaces, not five as stated by Rīgas Satiksme, were actually closed.
Rīgas Satiksme responded that it had tried several times to reach the owner of one vehicle parked in the restricted zone but had not received a reply, and it promised to keep working on resolving the issue.
Company's explanation
LA.LV learned that emergency repair works are underway on the section of Tomsona Street between Nītaures and Mālpils streets, with completion planned by August 19. The contractor told Rīgas Satiksme that work had been delayed because vehicles kept being parked in the closed spaces. Of the 37 paid parking spaces on that stretch, five were closed during the repairs.
Residents holding a Resident Permit were advised they could use nearby paid parking on Nītaures, Mālpils, Vesetas and Zaubes streets during the works. Other social media users shared similar observations, suggesting that different work crews involved in Riga's repair projects are not always well coordinated with one another.
