Rescindment of Regulations

to Provide a Loading Area Adjacent to

111 Carlton Street (Downtown)

The Toronto Community Council recommends the adoption of the following report (November 6, 1998) from the Director, Transportation Services District 1, Works and Emergency Services:

Purpose:

To resolve problems related to noise, street solicitation and unlawful parking occurring on Jarvis Street south of Carlton Street in the area delineated for motor coach loading and unloading.

Funding Sources:

Not applicable

Recommendations:

(1) That the stopping prohibition from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday to Friday except Public Holidays, be rescinded:

a)on the west side of Jarvis Street between Carlton Street and Charles Street East;

b)on the west side of Jarvis Street between Lake Shore Boulevard and a point 56.5 metres south of Carlton Street;

(2) That the standing prohibition at anytime on the west side of Jarvis Street between a point 30.5 metres south of Carlton Street and a point 26 metres further south thereof, be rescinded;

(3) That stopping be prohibited from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., except Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays on the west side of Jarvis Street between Charles Street East and Lake Shore Boulevard; and

(4) That the appropriate City Officials be requested to take whatever action is necessary to give effect to the foregoing, including the introduction in Council of any Bills that are required to amend the appropriate Schedules of the Uniform Traffic By-law.

Comments:

City Council at its meeting of June 3, 4 and 5, 1998 adopted, as amended, the recommendations in a report dated March 27, 1998 entitled, Designation of Loading Areas and On-Street Parking Spaces in Downtown Toronto for Use by Motor Coaches from the Interim Functional Lead, Transportation and in doing so, authorized the delineation of site-specific motor coach parking and/or loading spaces in the Toronto Community Council area. The west side of Jarvis Street from a point 30.5 metres south of Carlton Street to a point 26 metres further south, adjacent to the Best Western Primrose Hotel (Premises No. 111 Carlton Street) was one of the locations approved for a delineated motor coach loading area. Signs adjusting the stopping/standing/parking regulations and delineating the motor coach loading area (of a size suitable for 2 buses) were installed at this location on October 5, 1998.

Monitoring by City staff has revealed that the loading area is frequently occupied by buses which are "parked", some for extended periods of time including overnight, precluding other buses from dropping off or picking up passengers and/or luggage, which is the function of the loading area. Additionally, nearby residents have advised staff that the buses create a convenient shield to cover illegal drug transactions and prostitution activity occurring on the sidewalk in front of Premises Nos. 312-314 Jarvis Street and hotel staff have indicated that the loading area is not located close enough to the lobby entrance of the hotel to make it convenient to load/unload luggage.

Based on discussions between Works staff, Councillor Kyle Rae, representatives of the Best Western Primrose Hotel, residents of Jarvis Street south of Carlton Street and Toronto Police Service parking enforcement staff, the general consensus is that given the undesirable activities that are occurring, the provisions made for motor coach loading and unloading on the west side of Jarvis Street from a point 30.5 metres south of Carlton Street to a point 26 metres further south, should be rescinded and the parking and stopping regulations that existed prior to the implementation of the loading/unloading area should be reinstated. This will include reinstalling 4 parking meters which were removed to accommodate the motor coach loading area and re-establishing the stopping prohibition during the rush periods.

The current entry in the Uniform Traffic By-law respecting parking meter operation on Jarvis Street will not require any amendment to enable the reinstallation of the parking meters on this section of the street. Approval of the recommendations listed above will re-establish all parking/stopping regulations that existed prior to the implementation of the motor coach loading area.

Contact Name and Telephone Number:

Ron Hamilton, 392-1806