March 18, 1998

 To:East York Community Council

 From:Richard Z. Tomaszewicz

Commissioner of Development Services, East York

 Subject:Removal of No Parking Zone on Sammon Avenue

 Purpose:

 To report to the April 1, 1998, East York Community Council meeting regarding the removal of a ANo Parking, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday to Friday@ restriction on Sammon Avenue.

 Funding Sources:

 The proposed recommendation can be accommodated within the Operating Budget.

 Recommendations:

 AIt is recommended that:

 (1)By-law No. 92-93, entitled ATo regulate traffic on roads in the Borough of East York@ be amended to remove a ANo Parking, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday to Friday@ restriction on the north side of Sammon Avenue, from a point 42.5 metres west of the west curb line of Monarch Park Avenue to the east curb line of Bonnie Brae Boulevard; and

 (2)the appropriate City Officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.@

 Background:

 The Borough Clerk received a letter dated October 21, 1997, from Caroline Filion, 444 Sammon Avenue, requesting the removal of a ANo Parking, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday to Friday@ restriction on the north side of Sammon Avenue from a point 42.5 metres west of Monarch Park Avenue to Bonnie Brae Boulevard. Attached to the letter was a petition from residents on this block supporting the removal of the parking restriction. The letter was subsequently forwarded to the Development Services Department on October 27, 1997, for investigation.

Discussion:

 Sammon Avenue, between Monarch Park Avenue and Bonnie Brae Boulevard, is regulated by: a ANo Parking Anytime@ restriction and a School Bus Loading Zone adjacent to St. Aloysius School on the south side of the street; and, a ANo Parking, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday to Friday@ restriction on the north side from a point 42.5 metres west of Monarch Park Avenue to Bonnie Brae Boulevard. The north side of the street is also governed by overnight permit parking between 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. Appendix >A= illustrates the existing parking restrictions.

 Prior to 1980, the north side of Sammon Avenue, between a point 42.5 metres west of Monarch Park Avenue and Bonnie Brae Boulevard, was regulated by a ANo Parking Anytime@ restriction because of the presence of a mid-block school crossing. Overnight permit parking was implemented on the north side of Sammon Avenue, between Monarch Park Avenue and Bonnie Brae Boulevard, on March 3, 1980 allowing five parking spaces. In December 1980, the ANo Parking Anytime@ restriction was changed to a ANo Parking, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday to Friday@ restriction to allow an increase in overnight permit parking from 5 spaces to 9 spaces. On October 1, 1984, Council approved the implementation of the current School Bus Loading Zone on the south side of Sammon Avenue and eliminated the mid-block school crossing. It was noted in that report to Council that a ANo Parking, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday to Friday@ existed on the north side of the street, adjacent to the proposed School Bus Loading Zone. Records also indicate that on three occasions between 1982 and October 1997, staff were required to replace regulatory signs on this block that were removed by Apersons unknown@.

 Ms. Filion=s complaint requesting the removal of the ANo Parking, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday to Friday@ restriction arose when staff were investigating a complaint about the travelled portion of Sammon Avenue, between Monarch Park Avenue and Bonnie Brae Boulevard, being reduced to one lane because of school buses parked in the School Bus Loading Zone on the south side of the street and vehicles parked on the north side. An investigation of the parking restrictions revealed that a ANo Parking, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday to Friday@ restriction was in effect, however, the signs indicating the restriction were not present and it is unknown how long they had been missing. The ANo Parking, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday to Friday@ signs were reinstalled on October 15, 1997 and Ms. Filion=s letter and petition were received shortly thereafter requesting the removal of the restriction.

 Transportation staff conducted a study on Sammon Avenue in the vicinity of the School Bus Loading Zone adjacent to St. Aloysius School to evaluate traffic operations when the loading zone was in use by school buses. The study revealed that school buses use the loading zone between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Staff observed vehicles stopping and parking in the ANo Parking@ zone on the north side of the street, generally to pick up and drop off children at the school. Even when the No Parking zone was clear, vehicles were reluctant to manoeuver around the school buses and would wait until oncoming traffic cleared before proceeding. The maximum time that a vehicle was delayed was 6 seconds.

 An analysis of reported collisions on this block for the period from January 1, 1993 to December 31, 1997 revealed one collision which occurred on September 1, 1993, at 4:30 p.m. in which a child ran from between two parked vehicles on the north side of the street into the side of a westbound vehicle. No charges were laid and the child sustained minor injuries.

 Our study indicated that traffic operations are not being negatively affected when vehicles are parked on the north side of Sammon Avenue when school buses are using the School Bus Loading Zone. Vehicles either park in the area regardless of the restriction or, when the ANo Parking@ zone is clear, motorists are reluctant to manoeuvre around the school buses and wait until oncoming traffic clears. Therefore, it is recommended that this ANo Parking, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday to Friday@ restriction be removed.

 Conclusions:

 Although parking on the north side of Sammon Avenue is prohibited between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Monday to Friday across from the signed School Bus Loading Zone, a study conducted by staff revealed that vehicles regularly stop and park there. Furthermore, motorists travelling on Sammon Avenue wait until oncoming traffic is clear before proceeding through the single traffic lane that results when school buses are parked in the School Bus Loading Zone adjacent to St. Aloysius School.

 If the ANo Parking, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday to Friday@ restriction is removed, traffic operations are not expected to be negatively impacted since our study revealed that vehicles were delayed a maximum of 6 seconds before being able to proceed. Therefore, it is recommended that the ANo Parking, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday to Friday@ restriction on the north side of Sammon Avenue, between a point 42.5 metres west of Monarch Park Avenue and Bonnie Brae Boulevard be removed.

 Contact Name:

 Bryan Muir, Transportation Technologist

East York Office

778-2227

bmuir@borough.eastyork.on.ca

  RICHARD Z. TOMASZEWICZ

Commissioner of Development Services