September 28, 1998

To:Toronto Community Council

From:Andrew Koropeski, Director, Transportation Services District 1

Subject:Earl Haig Avenue (Fronting Earl Haig Public School) - Identification of a "School Bus Loading Zone" (East Toronto)

Purpose:

To facilitate loading and unloading of the school buses and to improve traffic flow on the street.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

Not Applicable

Recommendations:

(1)That the existing 10 minute maximum parking and Student Pick-up/Drop-off area on the south side of Earl Haig Avenue from a point 75.0 metres east of Coxwell Avenue to a point 20.0 metres further east be rescinded;

(2)That a "School Bus Loading Zone" be delineated on the south side of Earl Haig Avenue from a point 75.0 metres east of Coxwell Avenue to a point 20.0 metres further east;

(3)That parking be prohibited on the south side of Earl Haig Avenue from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday to Friday: and

(4)That the appropriate City officials be requested to take whatever action is necessary to give effect to the foregoing, including the introduction in Council of any Bills that are required.

Comments:

At the request of Mr. Childs, Principal of Earl Haig Public School, and in consultation with East Toronto Councillors Sandra Bussin and Tom Jakobek, staff have investigated identifying portions of the south side of Earl Haig Avenue between Coxwell Avenue and Hillingdon Avenue as a "School Bus Loading Zone" to improve the vehicular operation of the street.

Earl Haig Avenue is a residential street operating two-way from Coxwell Avenue to Hillingdon Avenue on a pavement width of 8.5 metres. The following parking regulations are in effect on this street.

North Side

- Parking is allowed by permit only from 12:01 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. daily;

- Parking is allowed for a maximum period of one hour from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday to Friday; and

- Parking is otherwise allowed for a maximum period of three hours.

South Side

- Parking is prohibited from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily:

a) from Coxwell Avenue to a point 58.0 metres east;

b)from a point 135.0 metres east of Coxwell Avenue to Hillingdon Avenue;

- Parking is prohibited from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday and from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday from a point 58.0 metres east of Coxwell Avenue to a point 77.0 metres further east;

- Parking is allowed for a maximum period of 10 minutes from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday to Friday from a point 58.0 metres east of Coxwell Avenue to a point 77.0 metres further east;

- Parking is allowed by permit only from 12:01 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. daily; and

- Parking is otherwise allowed for a maximum period of 3 hours.

Discussions between staff and Mr. Childs concluded that a School Bus Loading Zone would be required between 8:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday and that the best location would be on the south side of the street from a point 75.0 metres east of Coxwell Avenue to a point 20.0 metres further east, close to the main doors of the school. This location is essentially in the middle of the existing Student Pick-up and Drop-off Area/10-minute Parking Area.

The installation of a School Bus Loading Zone would alleviate some of the traffic congestion that occurs on Earl Haig Avenue when a school bus arrives to load/unload children (sometimes from the centre of the road if curb space is not available) while activating flashing lights and effectively stopping all traffic movement on the street. However, this would reduce the number of parking spaces in the Student Pick-up and Drop-off Area/10-minute Parking Area from about 14 to 10.

Although there would be a reduction in the potential number of short-term parking spaces provided on the south side of Earl Haig Avenue during the operational period of the School Bus Loading Zone, based on current usage observations, this would not create a significant inconvenience for parents picking up or dropping off children.

Contact Name and Telephone Number:

David G. Dignard, Traffic Investigator, 392-7771

Director

DGD/dd/sah

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