April 21, 1999
To:Toronto Community Council
From:Andrew Koropeski, Director, Transportation Services District 1
Subject:Gloucester Street, both sides, from Yonge Street to Church Street - Prohibition of stopping from 7:00 p.m. to
7:00 a.m. and prohibition of parking from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., daily (Ward 24 - Downtown)
Purpose:
This proposal is intended to discourage illegal drug solicitation while maintaining loading/unloading privileges for area
businesses.
Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
Funds to undertake the necessary signage adjustments in the estimated amount of $300.00 are contained in the
Transportation Services Division 1999 Current Budget request.
Recommendations:
(1)That the parking prohibition at anytime on the north side of Gloucester Street, from Yonge Street to Church Street, be
rescinded;
(2)That the parking prohibition at anytime on the south side of Gloucester Street, from Yonge Street to a point 91.5
metres further east, be rescinded;
(3)That stopping be prohibited from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., daily, on the north side of Gloucester Street, from Yonge
Street to Church Street;
(4)That stopping be prohibited from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., daily, on the south side of Gloucester Street, from Yonge
Street to a point 91.5 metres further east;
(5)That parking be prohibited from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., daily, on the north side of Gloucester Street, from Yonge
Street to Church Street;
(6)That parking be prohibited from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., daily, on the south side of Gloucester Street, from Yonge
Street to a point 91.5 metres further east; and
(7)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.
Comments:
At the request of representatives of the Metro Toronto Police Service, on behalf of area residents and in consultation with
Downtown Councillor Kyle Rae, Transportation Services staff have investigated measures to discourage street solicitation,
specifically illegal drug related activities, on both sides of Gloucester Street, east of Yonge Street, in vicinity to numerous
restaurants/clubs.
Gloucester Street, from Yonge Street to Church Street operates one-way westbound on a pavement width of 7.3 metres
with a maximum speed limit of fifty kilometres per hour. Parking is prohibited at anytime on the north side of the street,
from Yonge Street to Church Street and is also prohibited at anytime on the south side of the street, from Yonge Street to a
point 91.5 metres further east (the first parking meter stall). Parking (controlled by meters) is permitted for a maximum
period of one hour from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Saturday on the south side of Gloucester Street, from a point
91.5 metres east of Yonge Street to Church Street. Otherwise, parking, where allowed, is permitted to a maximum period
of three hours. The permit parking system is in operation from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., daily.
Traffic control signals are in operation at the intersection of Gloucester Street and Yonge Street. Under the provisions of
Chapter 400 of the Municipal Code no person shall park a vehicle within 30.5 metres of a signalized intersection. This is a
uniform parking prohibition City-wide at all signalized intersections to ensure that traffic is unimpeded by parked vehicles
when approaching and departing the intersection. In accordance with the provisions of the Highway Traffic Act, a vehicle
while actually engaged in loading/unloading merchandise or passengers may legally do so in an area where parking is
prohibited.
Recent site inspections during daytime hours by Transportation Services staff revealed that illegally parked delivery
vehicles (trucks, vans, etc.) and vehicles displaying a valid disabled persons parking permit (which are not exempt if
parked within 30.5 metres of the signals), park for extended periods of time on the north side of Gloucester Street, from
Yonge Street to Church Street and on the south side of the street, from Yonge Street to a point 91.5 metres further east (the
first parking meter stall). Our records indicate that the current parking prohibition was implemented many years ago to
enhance loading/unloading operations for businesses on Gloucester Street and on Yonge Street. Currently, this situation
does not create difficulties for motorists negotiating this portion of the street given the street has a one-way operation and a
width of 7.3 metres.
Members of the Toronto Police Service have informed us that several new bars/clubs have recently opened in the subject
area and given the nature of these establishments, illegal on-street drug solicitation on Gloucester Street, east of Yonge
Street has increased substantially, specifically during the evening and early morning hours.
Accordingly, based on our staff assessment, a more stringent stopping prohibition should be implemented to operate from
7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., daily on the north side of Gloucester Street, from Yonge Street to Church Street and on the south
side of Gloucester Street, from Yonge Street to a point 91.5 metres further east (the first parking meter stall), to enhance
traffic operation and discourage those motorists who are actively soliciting illegal drugs from their vehicles at the curb.
In conjunction with the above, parking should be prohibited from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., daily on the north side of
Gloucester Street, from Yonge Street to Church Street and on the south side of Gloucester Street, from Yonge Street to a
point 91.5 metres further east (the first parking meter stall). These regulations will allow businesses on Gloucester Street to
receive deliveries as vehicles will be able to legally stop while actually engaged in loading/unloading activities. To enhance
motorists awareness of this, the "No Parking" signage will be enhanced by affixing "loading only" tabs.
Implementation of this proposal will not adversely affect the operational safety of Gloucester Street nor will there be any
impact upon existing permit parking opportunities.
Contact Name and Telephone Number:
Curt Russell, 392-7771,
Director.
CR/cr
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