Proposed Amendment to Parking Regulations:

Weston Road, Both Sides, Between

Damask Avenue and Bradstock Road.

The Urban Environment and Development Committee recommends the adoption of the following report (August 14, 1998) from the General Manager, Transportation Services:

Purpose:

To amend the parking regulations on both sides of Weston Road between Damask Avenue and Bradstock Road.

Funding Sources:

The funds associated for this work are contained in the Works and Emergency Services' 1998 Current Budget. The estimated cost to install the required signs is $2,500.00.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)the parking regulations listed in Appendix 1 of this report be rescinded;

(2)the parking regulations listed in Appendix 2 of this report be enacted; and

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

Background:

At the request of the Toronto Police Service's Parking Enforcement Unit, the Department reviewed the feasibility of changing the parking regulations on both sides of Weston Road in the vicinity of St.Jude School at 3251 Weston Road. The concern is that pedestrian safety is being compromisedby motorists stopping to pick up and drop off students on both sides of Weston Road near St. Jude School.

Discussion:

Weston Road between Damask Avenue and Bradstock Road is a four-lane arterial road with a two-way, 24 hour volume of approximately 26,200. This section of Weston Road is approximately 300 metres in length. The land use on the east side of Weston Road consists of single-family residential units immediately south of Damask Avenue followed by St. Jude Roman Catholic Church, St. Jude School and Woodview Park Plaza on the northeast corner at Bradstock Avenue. Land use on the west side of Weston Road consists of two low-rise residential buildings between DamaskAvenue and Coronado Court and single-family residential units between Coronado Court and Bradstock Road. A pedestrian crossover (PXO) is located approximately 70 metres south of DamaskAvenue immediately in front of St. Jude Roman Catholic Church.

During a five-year period ending December 31, 1996, four pedestrian collisions occurred on this section of Weston Road. Two occurred at uncontrolled locations late at night, while two others occurred at the PXO during the day. In one incident an eight-year-old girl was hit at 3:45 p.m. just after school, and in the other a senior citizen was struck just before the end of the school day.

Currently, on the east side of Weston Road, stopping is prohibited between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, in the immediate vicinity of St. Jude School. However, to avoid this regulation, vehicles are stopping as far north as Damask Avenue. In order to provide optimal pedestrian safety, the Toronto Police Service has requested that the stopping prohibition be extended north along Weston Road to Damask Avenue.

On the west side of Weston Road opposite St. Jude School, stopping is prohibited between 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. However, the school day ends shortly after 3:00 p.m. and many vehicles are stopping between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Stopping on the west side requires students to cross a busy arterial road. Similarly, in order to improve pedestrian safety, the Toronto Police Service has requested that the afternoon stopping prohibition begin at 3:00p.m. instead of 4:00 p.m.

Alternative stopping locations on the east side of Weston Road, which do not require students to cross Weston Road, are as follows:

(1)Damask Avenue itself, approximately 120 metres north of the school;

(2)St. Jude Church parking lot, approximately 20 metres north of the school; and

(3)Woodview Park Plaza parking lot, immediately south of the school.

The proposed amendments to the parking regulations will have no impact on vehicular traffic operations on Weston Road.

Staff have contacted the Ward Councillors. Both Councillors Mammoliti and Sgro have reserved judgement regarding the proposed amendments.

Conclusions:

The proposed amendments to the parking regulations, as detailed in Appendices 1 and 2, will provideoptimal safety for pedestrians and will have no impact on vehicular traffic operations on Weston Road.

Contact Name:

Mr. Martin D. Maguire, Acting Manager, East Traffic Region, 392-5243.

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Appendix 1

Parking Regulations to be Rescinded

By-Law No. 32-92

Schedule IX - No Stopping

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Appendix 2

Parking Regulations to be Enacted

By-Law No. 32-92

Schedule IX - No Stopping

(A copy of the location plan, which was appended to the foregoing report, has been forwarded to all Members of Council with the agenda of the September 8, 1998 meeting of the Urban Environment and Development Committee, and a copy thereof is also on file in the office of the City Clerk.)