(Report dated June 3, 1998, addressed to the Chairman and Members of the Scarborough Community Council, from the Director, Road and Traffic Services, Works and Environment, Scarborough District.)

Subject:Alternating Parking in the AEast Beaches@ Community, Scarborough Bluffs

Purpose:

To investigate the need to remove the alternating parking on Blantyre Avenue and replace it with the previous erected parking restrictions.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

The $ 1000 (approximate) funds associated with the installation of the parking restriction signs is available in the Road and Traffic Services 1998 Budget, Account No. 20000-70200-72260.

The $ 1000 (approximate) funds associated with the removal of the pavement markings is available in the Road and Traffic Services 1998 Budget, Account No. 20000-70200-72440.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)the parking restriction signs identified in Appendix 1 of this report be rescinded;

(2)the parking restriction signs identified in Appendix 2 of this report be adopted; and

(3)the appropriate by-laws be amended accordingly.

Council Reference/Background/History:

Road and Traffic Services received a petition representing 95 of the 150 residences on Blantyre Avenue requesting that the alternating side parking restrictions installed in 1997 be removed, and the signed restrictions that were in place prior to these restrictions be reinstalled. Associated with this change is the removal of the pavement markings (i.e., pinch points and sections of centre line) on Blantyre Avenue that were installed as part of a phased traffic calming plan in the AEast Beaches@ community.

Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:

Blantyre Avenue is located in the AEast Beaches@ community which is in the extreme southwest corner of the former City of Scarborough. During the past several years, Road and Traffic Services staff and former Councillor Harvey Barron have been working with area residents to address concerns with regard to speeding and traffic volumes in the community. As a result of numerous public meetings with the community, a consensus was established to proceed with the first phase of a traffic calming plan. An alternating parking and pavement marking plan (i.e., pinch points) were installed on Fallingbrook Road, Courcelette Road, Blantyre Avenue, Victoria Park Avenue and Queen Street in 1997.

Specifically, on Blantyre Avenue, on-street parking areas would alternate between the 1st to 15th and 16th to the end of the month on staggered intervals of both sides of the road. This arrangement prevented all of the parking from being lined up on one side of the road for half the month and on the other side for the other half. Approximately 20 on-street parking spaces in total were removed at the pinch point locations in order to provide a safe transition zone between the staggered parking areas.

After experiencing the modest on-street parking reduction, however, the majority of residents on Blantyre Avenue now prefer that the parking restrictions return to those that were in place prior to the traffic calming plan. The previous restrictions were as follows:

(i)No Parking on the west side of Blantyre Avenue from the 1st to the 15th of each month from April 1 to November 30.

(ii)No Parking on the east side of Blantyre Avenue from the 16th to the end of each month from April 1 to November 30.

(iii)No Parking on the west side of Blantyre Avenue from December 1 to March 31.

(iv)Parking restricted on both sides from Queen Street to 46 metres north of Queen Street.

(v)Parking restricted on the west side from Windsor Avenue (west approach) to 76 metres north of Windsor Avenue.

One previous restriction, number (v), is no longer required as a school safety patrol no longer operates at this location. The patrol program was the reason why the restriction was originally installed.

Conclusions:

As it is the desire of the majority of residents of Blantyre Avenue between Kingston Road and Queen Street, and as it will not impact safety, we can support reverting the parking restrictions back to the same restrictions posted prior to 1997 and removing the pinch point pavement markings.

Contact Name:

Bruce Clayton

Supervisor, Traffic Investigations, Works and Environment, Scarborough District

Telephone: 396-7844

Fax: 396-5681

E-mail: clayton@city.scarborough.on.ca

(Copies of Appendices 1 and 2, referred to in the foregoing report, are on file in the office of the City Clerk.)

(Attachments are also on file in the office of the City Clerk.)

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