October 16, 1998

To:Toronto Community Council

From:A. Koropeski, Director, Transportation Services, District 1

Subject:Wood Street, north side, east of Yonge Street - Prohibition of parking at anytime. (Downtown)

Purpose:

This proposal is intended to enhance loading/unloading operations for patrons of the Howard Johnson Hotel, Premises No. 475 Yonge Street, during current renovations at the hotel.

Funding Sources:

Not applicable.

Recommendations:

(1)That the stopping prohibition at anytime on the north side of Wood Street, from a point 189.0 metres west of Church Street to a point 20.5 metres further west and from a point 220.5 metres west of Church Street to a point 22.0 metres further west, be rescinded;

(2)That the standing prohibition at anytime on the north side of Wood Street, from Yonge Street to a point 51.8 metres further east, be rescinded;

(3)That parking be prohibited at anytime on the north side of Wood Street, from a point 189.0 metres west of Church Street to Yonge Street; 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 the management of the Howard Johnson Hotel (Premises No. 475 Yonge Street), and in consultation with staff of the Toronto Police Service, Parking Enforcement Unit and Councillor Kyle Rae, Works staff have investigated temporarily relaxing the stopping/standing prohibition at anytime on the north side of Wood Street, east of Yonge Street on the flankage of the Howard Johnson Hotel to allow guests and taxicabs to legally stop and pick-up/drop-off passengers and luggage at the curb during renovations at the hotel, which have temporarily eliminated access to off-street facilities where these operations took place.

Wood Street, from Church Street to Yonge Street operates two-way on a pavement which ranges in width from 7.3 metres (near Church Street) to 14.6 metres (near Yonge Street). Stopping and/or Standing are prohibited at anytime on the north side of the street from a point 189.0 metres west of Church Street to Yonge Street, which encompasses the area fronting the pedestrian entrance/exit to the Howard Johnson Hotel. Stopping also is prohibited at anytime on the south side of Wood Street across from the hotel.

Although, a vehicle while actually engaged in loading/unloading passengers may legally do so in the area where standing is prohibited (between Yonge Street and a point 51.8 metres east), this is about 30 metres away from the hotel entrance and technically, luggage or other merchandise may not legally be unloaded anywhere along the flankage of the hotel. Consequently, patrons of the hotel experience some inconvenience. Parking Enforcement staff are aware of the situation and have been giving some consideration to hotel patrons and taxicabs. Nevertheless, some vehicles are receiving parking tags at times when officers that are less familiar with the current situation are working in the neighbourhood.

Our site inspections have revealed that vehicles stopped on Wood Street in the vicinity of the pedestrian entrance/exit to the Howard Johnson Hotel do not adversely impact on safety or traffic operation. In fact, the current stopping/standing regulations were essentially implemented many years ago to enhance traffic operation and discourage illegal parking that often occurred when events were taking place at Maple Leaf Gardens or at the Odeon Carlton Theatre (which has been closed for several years).

Based on our assessment, the current stopping/standing prohibitions on the north side of Wood Street from a point 189.0 metres west of Church Street to Yonge Street should be rescinded and in place thereof, parking should be prohibited at anytime. Loading Only tabs would be affixed to the regulatory signs required to give effect to the parking prohibition. Implementation of this proposal would legally allow motorists to stop and drop-off/pick-up passengers and luggage or other merchandise. However, this arrangement should be temporary in nature and re-evaluated later in the summer of 1999 when the renovations at the Howard Johnson Hotel are expected to be complete.

Contact Name and Telephone Number:

Curt Russell, 392-7771

Director.

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