Removal of a No Parking Zone
on Sammon Avenue
The East York Community Council recommends the adoption of the following report
(March 18, 1998) from the Commissioner of Development Services, East York:
Purpose:
To report to the April 1, 1998, East York Community Council meeting regarding the removal of a
"No 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:
It is recommended that:
(1) By-law No. 92-93, entitled "To regulate traffic on roads in the Borough of East York" be
amended to remove a "No 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 "No 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
"No Parking Anytime" restriction and a School Bus Loading Zone adjacent to St. Aloysius School
on the south side of the street; and, a "No 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 "No 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
"No Parking Anytime" restriction was changed to a "No 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 "No 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 "persons unknown".
Ms. Filion's complaint requesting the removal of the "No 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
"No 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
"No 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 "No 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 "No 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 "No 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 "No 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 "No 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
