June 22, 1998

To: The Urban Environment and Development Committee

From: General Manager, Transportation Services

Subject: Amendments to Parking Regulations on the West Side of Bathurst Street, between Dupont Street and the Access to the Toronto Transit Commission Hillcrest Complex

Midtown: Councillors John Adams and Ila Bossons

Purpose:

To amend the parking regulations on the west side of Bathurst Street, between Dupont Street and the access to the Toronto Transit Commission Hillcrest Complex.

Funding Sources:

The funds associated with the implementation of the proposed parking regulations are contained in the Works and Emergency Services Department's 1998 Current Budget. The estimated cost of installing appropriate signs is $600.00.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1) the parking prohibition currently in effect on the west side of Bathurst Street, between Dupont Street and Davenport Road, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, be rescinded;

(2) parking be prohibited on the west side of Bathurst Street, between the access to the Toronto Transit Commission Hillcrest Complex and Davenport Road, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday; and

(3) the stopping prohibition currently in effect on the west side of Bathurst Street, between Dupont Street and the access to the Toronto Transit Commission Hillcrest Complex, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., Monday to Friday be modified to be in effect at all times; and

(4) the appropriate by-law(s) be amended accordingly.

Background:

At the request of staff of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), our Department investigated parking regulations and traffic operations on the west side of Bathurst Street, between Dupont Street and the TTC Hillcrest Complex access.

Discussion:

Bathurst Street, between Dupont Street and the signalized access to the TTC Hillcrest Complex, is a four-lane roadway with an estimated two-way, daily traffic volume of 30,000 vehicles. This section of Bathurst Street is approximately 250 metres in length. Also, a CNR bridge is located approximately 125 metres north of Dupont Street. The current parking regulations on the west side of this section of Bathurst Street are: "No Stopping", between 7:00 a.m., and 9:00 a.m., Monday to Friday and "No Parking", between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.

TTC staff have raised a concern that stopped or parked vehicles in the southbound curb lane in this area force all southbound traffic into the median lane. During weekday daytime periods vehicles stop in the curb lane to access a TTC employment office located on the west side of Bathurst Street and during night-time and weekend periods vehicles legally park in the curb lane. As a result, large vehicles such as trucks travel under the CNR bridge in the median lane. At this bridge the clearance for the curb lane is higher than the clearance for the median lane. This is due to the presence of TTC overhead streetcar wires above the median lane. Therefore, some large vehicles cause material damage to the streetcar wires as well as a disruption to the transit service.

To alleviate this, warning signs are installed in advance of the bridge as well as at the bridge to inform large vehicles of the restricted clearances at this bridge. However, keeping the curb lane available for moving traffic would encourage large vehicles to use the curb lane, between Dupont Street and the access to the TTC Hillcrest complex.

During night-time and weekend periods a stopping prohibition will displace approximately five parking spaces in this area, but sufficient alternate parking exists nearby (i.e.: on the west side of Bathurst Street, between the Hillcrest Complex and Davenport Road) to accommodate the displaced parking spaces. Also, an off-street parking lot is located next to the TTC employment office which motorists can use when going to this office.

The proposed introduction of the "No Stopping" zone has been discussed with TTC staff and they concur with the recommendations. Furthermore, Councillors John Adams and Ila Bossons have been consulted and they have no concerns with this proposal.

Conclusions:

The introduction of a "No Stopping" regulation on the west side of Bathurst Street, between Dupont Street and the access to the TTC Hillcrest Complex, should reduce occurrences of large vehicles damaging TTC streetcar wires on the underside of the CNR bridge.

Contact Name:

Jacqueline White, Acting Manager

Central Traffic Region

(416) 397-5021

D. C. Kaufman

General Manager, Transportation Services

Reviewed by Barry Gutteridge

Commissioner, Works & Emergency Services