March 11, 1999
To:Chairman and Members of the Scarborough Community Council
From:Gary H. Welsh, Director, Transportation Services, Works and Emergency Services,
District 4
Subject:Parking and Traffic Conditions on Nelson Street and Farmbrook Road at
Cedarbrook Junior Public School, Scarborough City Centre
Purpose:
To provide a follow-up account of recently installed parking restrictions on Nelson Street and
Farmbrook Road near Cedarbrook Junior Public School.
Funding Sources:
The $400 (approximate) funds associated with the installation of the stopping prohibition
signs is available in the Transportation Services 1999 budget estimates, Account No.
100-TP10220.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1) the stopping regulations identified in Appendix 1 of this report be adopted;
(2) the appropriate by-law be amended accordingly;
(3) the existing on-street parking restrictions on Nelson Street remain unchanged;
(4) copies of this report be sent to the Toronto Board of Education, and Cedarbrook Junior
Public School for their information; and
(5)a copy of this report be sent to the Toronto Police Service, Parking Enforcement Unit
requesting selective enforcement of the existing parking regulations near Cedarbrook Junior
Public School.
Council Reference/ Background/History:
As directed by the Scarborough Community Council in July 1998, Transportation Services
staff restudied school related traffic/parking conditions in the fall of 1998 following the
installation of new parking/stopping regulations at Cedarbrook Junior Public School.
Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:
Currently, along the north/school side of Nelson Street, a 30 minute parking limit applies
between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. This same restriction exists along the
west/school side of Farmbrook Road. On the south/opposite side of Nelson Street there is a
"No Stopping, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday" regulation.
The east/opposite side of Farmbrook Road has no posted parking regulations. When last
reported on, staff recommended, "No Stopping, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday"
regulations for the east side of Farmbrook Road to maintain consistency with the signage on
Nelson Street and to prevent parking on both sides of the street from restricting traffic
movements in this sensitive school area. However, as some residents opposed this
recommendation, it was not supported by Community Council and this side of the road has
remained unsigned.
Studies conducted on Monday September 28, 1999, following the installation of these
restrictions, have revealed that parking on the east side of Farmbrook Road has actually
increased. The following table compares the results of the first on-street parking observations
taken on Monday, April 7, 1997, to the restudy observations from Monday, September 28,
1998.
Study Location |
Study Periods |
|
8:00 a.m. -
9:00 a.m. |
11:30 a.m. -
1:15 p.m. |
3:00 p.m. -
4:00 p.m. |
First Study |
Re-study |
First
Study |
Re-study |
First
Study |
Re-study |
Parking on Nelson
Street - North Side
Parking on Nelson
Street - South Side
Parking on
Farmbrook Rd -
West Side
Parking on
Farmbrook Rd - East
Side |
18
4
28
2 |
15
3
11
8 |
NA
NA
NA
NA |
9
0
16
9 |
14
4
22
5 |
11
5
17
16 |
School Mini Buses
(Illegal parking in
the school bus zone) |
4
^1 |
5
^2 |
NA
NA |
0
0 |
8
^5 |
6
^1 |
Parking Lot Use
- vehicles inbound
- vehicles outbound |
34
20 |
34
17 |
NA
NA |
19
19 |
15
16 |
11
16 |
KEY: ^ indicates a private vehicle - these vehicles have also been included as being parked on
the north side of Nelson Street. Only school buses may park within the defined limits of a
school bus loading zone.
This table shows that in both the "before" and "after" studies, most parents/guardians prefer to
park directly abutting the school grounds. This is significant because vehicle passengers are
being attended to along side the school and are not crossing in front of potentially dangerous
through traffic.
Prior to the first study, the "lunch" period was not identified as a time requiring examination
and, therefore, there is no related data available. Nonetheless, there is a clear requirement for
continuation of the signed parking regulations given the significant amount of on-street
parking being generated during this time.
Also shown in this table is the pattern of some motorists choosing to park on the "opposite"
side of Nelson Street and Farmbrook Road. When vehicles park on both sides of the street,
roadway congestion restricts regular through traffic. To help improve the levels of sign
compliance, selective police enforcement of these controls is recommended by copy of this
report to the Toronto Police Service.
At the same time as the vehicle observations, pedestrian studies were also undertaken. The
following table shows a comparison of these observations:
Study Location |
Study Periods |
|
8:00 a.m. -
9:00 a.m. |
11:30 a.m. -
1:15 p.m. |
3:00 p.m. -
4:00 p.m. |
First Study |
Restudy |
First
Study |
Restudy |
First
Study |
Restudy |
Pedestrians
Crossing Nelson
Street at
Mid-block
Locations
Children
Assisted
Children
Adults
Pedestrians
Crossing
Farmbrook Road
at Mid-block
Locations
Children
Assisted
Children
Adults
Pedestrian
Crossings at the
P.X.O.
Children
Assisted
Children
Adults
|
3
0
1
5
0
0
30
16
14 |
1
0
2
5
1
7
33
24
25
|
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA |
2
0
0
9
1
4
56
30
21
|
1
5
5
0
6
1
27
17
17 |
7
4
2
5
0
1
31
22
28 |
(Assisted Children are children crossing the road accompanied by a youth, an adult or the
school safety patrollers.)
This table shows that the majority of pedestrian crossings associated with Cedarbrook Junior
Public School are taking place at the highly visible pedestrian crossover (P.X.O.). This table
also indicates the need for day-long parking restrictions because the greatest number of
pedestrian movements occurred at lunch. Throughout the observations, no conflicts were
recorded between pedestrians and motorists.
Collision History:
In addition to the studies outlined above, we conducted a three-year, five month collision
review of this area (from January 1, 1995 to May 31, 1998) which revealed that three
collisions have been reported during this time period.
Each of these collisions occurred during non-school hours and the common factor in each
collision involved drivers failing to yield the right-of-way to other motorists, resulting in
minor injuries and limited property damage. Although any collision is regrettable, based on
the frequency and the nature of these collisions, they are not indicative of a safety problem.
Conclusion:
Based on the results of our investigations, we are recommending the continuation of the
standard "school side parking/opposite side no stopping" regulations on Nelson Street as they
currently exist. Although not originally supported by some residents, our study results reveal
that these same standardregulations should be applied to Farmbrook Road. Specifically, "No
Stopping, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00p.m., Monday to Friday" signs should be installed along the
east/opposite side of Farmbrook Road.
These regulations are recommended because they do not allow even temporary parking. The
intention of these signs will be to prevent passengers from boarding or alighting on the
opposite side of the road and crossing in front of through traffic, and to maintain two lanes of
travel. This recommendation provides for a safer situation in the vicinity of the school and an
effective means of enforcement.
Contact Name:
Bruce Clayton
Supervisor, Traffic Engineering, Works and Emergency Services
Telephone: 396-7844
Fax: 396-5681
E-Mail: clayton@city.scarborough.on.ca
Gary H. Welsh
Director
Transportation Services
Works and Emergency Services
District 4
JAB:ca
c:\work\wpwork\reports\farm
Appendix 1
"No Stopping"
Prohibition to be Enacted
Column 1 Column 2Column 3Column 4
Highway SideFrom ToTimes or Days
Farmbrook EastNelson Street178 metres north of8:00 a.m. to
RoadNelson Street4:00 p.m.
Monday to Friday
|