The city will slap steep fines on motorists this year who clog streets and driveways around Spencer Gorge and Webster Falls.

Visitors who bypass a Hamilton Conservation Authority (HCA) shuttle bus and park near the Greensville attraction risk a $250 parking ticket — far more than the usual $24 for parking at an expired metre, or $75 for stopping in a forbidden zone.

As part of a one-year pilot project, the city has designated the falls a "special enforcement area," which means fines are double or triple what they are in other parts of Hamilton.

The HCA weekend shuttle bus, now in its third year, is supposed to keep traffic away from the area. But Arlene VanderBeek, Ward 13 (Dundas/Flamborough) councillor, says it's not enough.

People are still picnicking on private lawns and parking in driveways, she said. "No parking" signs and extra enforcement haven't done it. Now the city has designated it a "special enforcement area."

"Unfortunately, there are still thousands of people parking within the precinct," VanderBeek said at a late March city council meeting.

The city and HCA have grappled in recent years with the growing swell of visitors to Hamilton waterfalls.

Firefighters hoist one of the victims to the top of the Dundas Peak. in 2018. (Andrew Collins)

Rope rescues, for example, reached an all-time high in 2016. With the traffic issue, the HCA started a shuttle service to take people from Christie Lake to Spencer Gorge and Tew and Webster Falls.

That weekend service starts up again on Good Friday. The first shuttle leaves Christie Lake at 9:30 a.m. and ends at 6:30 p.m., although in June, July and August, it runs until 7:30 p.m.

There's no parking at Spencer Gorge when the shutting is operating, except limited accessible parking at Webster Falls. The shuttle costs $10 per car for parking and $5 per person to take the shuttle. Pets aren't allowed on the bus.

The first season, the group Think Greensville operated the shuttle service, says Gord Costie, HCA's director of conservation area services. Now the HCA operates it through a contractor, Attridge Transportation, and makes "a small profit."

About 45,000 people rode the shuttle last year, Costie said. That's the equivalent of 15,000 cars that parked at Christie Lake.

The shuttle hasn't solved every problem, Costie said. But it has eased traffic issues.

"I do see the impact of it compared to what it was like three and four years ago," Costie said.

John-Paul Danko, a city councillor for Ward 8 (central Mountain), also proposed a plan in January to give locals priority access to Hamilton waterfalls.

Danko says CityLAB Hamilton will study that.