Parking Restrictions on Randolph Road
between McRae Drive and Markham Avenue
The East York Community Council recommends the adoption of the following report (September29, 1998) from
the Director, Transportation Services, District One:
Purpose:
To report to the October 14, 1998, meeting of the East York Community Council regarding a request to remove parking
restrictions on Randolph Road, between McRae Drive and MarkhamAvenue.
Financial Implications:
There are no financial implications.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1)the Clerks Department be directed to conduct a formal poll of the residents of Randolph Road, between McRae Drive
and Markham Avenue to determine support for the removal of the existing "No Parking, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m."
restriction;
(2)the Clerks Department be directed to conduct a formal poll of the residents of Randolph Road, between McRae Drive
and Markham Avenue to determine support for the implementation of overnight permit parking; and
(3)the appropriate City Officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.
Background:
The East York Community Council at its meeting on July 22, 1998, received a petition from residents of Randolph Road,
between McRae Drive and Markham Avenue, requesting that the parking restrictions within this block be lifted. The East
York Community Council subsequently requested that the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services report on the
concerns and requests of the residents as outlined in the petition.
Comments:
Parking on Randolph Road, between McRae Drive and Markham Avenue, is presently regulated by a signed "No Parking,
8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday" restriction on both sides of the street. There is also a "No Parking Anytime"
restriction on the east side of the street between McRaeDrive and a point 88.5 metres south (across the street from the fire
station), a "15 Minute Parking, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday" restriction on the west side of the street
between McRae Drive and a point 47 metres south of McRae Drive, and a "No Parking Anytime" restriction on the west
side from a point 47 metres south of McRae Drive to a point 67.5 metres south of McRaeDrive (adjacent to the fire
station). Appendix "A" illustrates the existing parking regulations.
The "No Parking, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday" restriction is a common regulation in effect on both sides of
Randolph Road from Kenrae Road to Parkhurst Boulevard. The restriction was implemented on each block presumably to
address concerns of motorists regularly parking on Randolph Road to visit the adjacent commercial areas on Laird Drive
and on McRaeDrive.
1. Removal of Signed Parking Restriction
The petition submitted by the residents of Randolph Road states that they wish to remove the existing "No Parking, 8:00
a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday" restriction on the block between McRaeDrive and Markham Road.
This restriction was implemented in 1992 following the receipt of a petition from the residents to change the previous
"One Hour Parking, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday" restriction on the west side of the street to a "No Parking,
8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday" restriction because visitors to the adjacent commercial properties used this
block to park, often longer than the permitted one hour. Since enforcement of a time-restricted parking regulation requires
that parking enforcement staff attend a location twice to tag an offender that stays beyond the one-hour limit, the Police at
that time had difficulty in providing this enforcement. Therefore, the petition was submitted by the residents to change the
one-hour parking regulation to a "NoParking" restriction.
The residents should be aware that if this "No Parking, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday" restriction is removed,
the street will be regulated by the unsigned 3-hour parking bylaw, which is enforced on a complaint basis. It is possible
that the parking concerns that residents had prior to 1992, regarding vehicles from the commercial areas parking on the
street, may return if this "NoParking, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday" restriction is removed. Therefore, staff
recommend that the Clerks Department conduct a formal poll of all residents on the block to ascertain support for removal
of the signed "No Parking, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday" restriction.
2. Removal of the Unsigned Three-hour Parking Regulation
The residents also state in their petition that they want the ban on overnight parking removed. While there is no such ban
on overnight parking on this block, this block is regulated by the unsigned three-hour parking regulation outside of the
hours when the signed "No Parking, 8:00a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday" restriction is in effect.
The unsigned three-hour parking regulation is in place on all streets in the City of Toronto that are not otherwise regulated
by a signed parking restriction. This regulation enables enforcement measures to be taken in cases where vehicles are left
on the street for extended periods. Without it, vehicles could park indefinitely on the street, causing problems for street
maintenance, cleaning and snow removal, and for other residents wishing to park on the street. The Uniform Traffic
By-law does not provide for the removal of this restriction on specific streets for these reasons. It should also be noted that
the three-hour parking regulation is enforced only when a complaint is received from a resident of that block. Otherwise
parking enforcement does not take place.
To address the concern of the residents who are being tagged for parking more than three hours, it is possible for
overnight permit parking to be implemented on the block. By purchasing a permit ($50.00 plus GST for 6 months),
residents would be able to park overnight without being subject to tagging. The petition submitted by the residents of
Randolph Road did not specifically state support for an overnight permit parking restriction. However, to expedite the
process, we recommend that a formal poll be conducted by the Clerks Department to gauge support for the
implementation of overnight permit parking on Randolph Road, between McRae Drive and Markham Avenue.
Conclusion:
In 1992, residents of Randolph Road, between McRae Drive and Markham Avenue petitioned to change the existing "One
Hour Parking, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday" restriction on the west side of the street to a "No Parking, 8:00
a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday" restriction to address concerns about motorists attending the adjacent commercial
areas using this block to park all day, and the lack of enforcement of the restriction. Their request was supported by
Council and the parking restrictions were subsequently changed.
In 1998, approximately 43 percent of the residents are now petitioning to remove the "NoParking, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.,
Monday to Friday" restriction on both sides of the street. It should be noted that the concerns raised in 1992 about
vehicles parking on the street daily may occur again if the restrictions are removed. Therefore, it is recommended that the
Clerks Department conduct a formal poll of all residents of Randolph Road, between McRae Drive and Markham
Avenue, to ascertain support of the removal of the signed parking restrictions.
With respect to the request of residents to remove the restriction preventing parking overnight, which is actually the
three-hour parking regulation, the Uniform Traffic By-law does not provide for the removal of the three-hour parking
regulation on specific streets. This is because vehicles would be able to park indefinitely on the street, causing street
maintenance, cleaning, and snow removal concerns. If residents wish to park on the street overnight, they may submit a
petition showing support for overnight permit parking. By obtaining a permit for $50.00 plus GST for a 6 month period,
they may park overnight without being subject to tagging. Although the petition that was submitted did not specifically
state support for overnight permit parking, we recommend that the Clerks Department conduct a formal poll to ascertain
support in order to expedite the process for the residents.
Contact Name and Telephone Number:
Bryan Muir, Transportation Technologist
(416) 778-2227
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