Idling Control By-law.

The Urban Environment and Development Committee recommends that:

(1)an Idling Control By-law, identical to the former City of Toronto's Idling Control By-law (City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 212), be adopted immediately for the new City of Toronto;

(2)the General Manager, Transportation Services, be requested:

(a)to monitor and increase enforcement of the Idling Control By-law as soon as possible, but in any event, prior to the 1999 tourist season;

(b)to contact representatives of the bus companies, particularly those from the UnitedStates, in order to educate them with respect to the Idling Control By-law; and

(c)to liaise with representatives of the hotel industry in order to emphasize the importance of clean air and a clean city for visitors to Toronto;

(3)a copy of this matter be forwarded to the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and to the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Toronto Coach Terminal Inc., with a request that they ensure, to the best of their ability, that the by-Idling Control By-law is respected; and, further, that the TTC's inspection staff be utilized in the enforcement of the by-law where idling is occurring unnecessarily; and

(4)the appropriate City officials be authorized to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

The Urban Environment and Development Committee submits the following communication (August26, 1998) from the City Clerk:

Recommendation:

The Toronto Pedestrian Committee recommended that the Idling Control By-law, City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 212, be applied to the entire new City of Toronto.

Background:

At its meeting on August 20, 1998, the Toronto Pedestrian Committee had before it for consideration the attached information leaflet on "An Idling Control By-law".

(Extract from the aforementioned leaflet, entitled

"An Idling Control By-law".)

Currently applies within the Old City of Toronto Boundaries.

Idling and Air Quality:

Contaminants from vehicle exhaust are major contributors to deteriorating air quality in Toronto. Recent studies by Health Canada and other agencies link a number of contaminants from vehicle emissions to significant respiratory health effects. Reducing these contaminants in Toronto's air by restricting unnecessary idling is part of a comprehensive air quality strategy for the City. The goal of this strategy is to improve air quality and respiratory health.

What is the Purpose of the By-law?

The by-law is intended to reduce unnecessary idling in the City. It limits idling to no more than three minutes in a given 60 minute period. The by-law allows transit vehicles to idle when picking up or discharging passengers and also allows limited idling when transit vehicles are waiting for passengers. As well, the by-law provides for idling during extreme outdoor temperatures to ensure heating or cooling inside a vehicle.

How Will the By-law be Enforced?

The City's intention is to achieve compliance with the by-law through voluntary measures. If these measures are not successful, the by-law provides for a fine of $105.00 for infractions of the by-law. City Works Services staff are responsible for by-law enforcement.

Why Should we Reduce the Unnecessary Idling of Vehicles?

There are known environmental impacts and economic costs associated with vehicle emissions.

Environmental Impacts:

-Motor vehicles and related activities are the major sources of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, suspended particles and volatile organic compounds in the City. Nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds are the two main substances involved in the formation of ozone, a component of smog.

-Ozone and suspended particles are included in the group of chemicals associated with significant respiratory health effects and hospital admissions.

Economic Costs and Operational Impacts:

-It has been estimated that three percent of Ontario's fuel is wasted by idling. An idling diesel engine will burn about 2.5 litres per hour. An idling gasoline engine will burn about 3.5 litres per hour. Ten seconds of idling uses more fuel than restarting the engine.

-Idling a diesel engine accelerates engine cool down. Fifteen minutes of idling reduces engine temperature the same amount as turning the engine off for one hour.

-Lubricant contamination occurs from excessive idling. This is because engine operation at idling temperatures creates soot deposits and condensation of water vapour mixes with sulphur oxides to become sulphuric acid in the crankcase.

What are the Alternatives to Unnecessary Idling?

From a cold start, it is better to warm up an engine by driving it rather than idling. Warm up times are reduced to half and fuel consumption is reduced.

If you are concerned about turning off your engine because you may have trouble restarting it, a well maintained starter system and engine is a better alternative than idling.

A condition referred to as "hot stall", where older diesel engines may be difficult to restart, should not occur if the engine is shut down properly.

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The following persons appeared before the Urban Environment and Development Committee in connection with the foregoing matter:

-Mrs. Lois James, Scarborough; and

-Ms. Natalie Litwin, Co-Chair, Environmentalists Plan Transportation, and filed a written brief with respect thereto.