September 24, 1999

To:Toronto Community Council

From:Andrew Koropeski, Director, Transportation Services District 1

Subject:Prohibition of standing at anytime on -

(i)Grenville Street, south side, between Bay Street and Elizabeth Street;

(ii)Grosvenor Street, south side, between Bay Street and Surrey Place; and

(iii)Elm Street, south side, between McCaul Street and St. Patrick Street (Downtown)

Purpose:

To keep the curb areas clear of parked vehicles to ensure the safe and efficient flow of motor vehicle traffic and facilitate the loading/unloading of passengers on the subject streets.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

The implementation cost of this proposal is approximately $1,500.00, funds for which are available in the Transportation Services 1999 Operating Budget.

Recommendations:

(1)That the following parking regulation changes be approved on the south side of Grenville Street, between Bay Street and Elizabeth Street:

(i)the parking prohibition at anytime, on the south side of Grenville Street, from a point 19.0 metres east of Elizabeth Street to Bay Street, be rescinded; and

(ii)standing be prohibited at anytime, on the south side of Grenville Street, from a point 19.0 metres east of Elizabeth Street to Bay Street.

(2)That the following parking regulation changes be approved on the south side of Grosvenor Street, between Bay Street and Surrey Place:

(i)the parking prohibition at anytime, on the south side of Grosvenor Street, from Bay Street to Surrey Place, be rescinded; and

(ii)standing be prohibited at anytime, on the south side of Grosvenor Street, from Bay Street to Surrey Place.

(3)That the following parking regulation changes be approved on the south side of Elm Street, between McCaul Street and St. Patrick Street:

(i)the parking prohibition at anytime, on the south side of Elm Street, from McCaul Street to the west curb line of Murray Street, be rescinded;

(ii)standing be prohibited at anytime, on the south side of Elm Street, from McCaul Street to St. Patrick Street; and

(iii)parking be prohibited at anytime, on the south side of Elm Street, from St. Patrick Street to the west curb line of Murray Street; 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.

Comments:

At the request of a representative of the Toronto Police Services' Parking Enforcement Unit and in consultation with Downtown Councillors Olivia Chow and Kyle Rae, staff of Transportation Services have reviewed the parking regulations on the subject sections of Grenville Street, Grosvenor Street and Elm Street, with the view of enhancing traffic operation and safety on these streets.

Grenville Street, south side, between Bay Street and Elizabeth Street

Grenville Street, between Bay Street and Elizabeth Street, operates two-way on a pavement width of 9.8 metres. An on-street loading zone for disabled persons is located on the south side of Grenville Street, from a point 9.0 metres east of Elizabeth Street to a point 10.0 metres further east and from that point to Bay Street, parking is prohibited at anytime. Parking is permitted at parking meters for a maximum period of one hour from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Saturday and for a maximum period of three hours at other times on the north side of the street.

Under the authority of the Highway Traffic Act, a vehicle while actually engaged in loading/unloading passengers or merchandise may legally do so in an area where parking is prohibited. Accordingly vehicles (delivery trucks, taxis and passenger vehicles) may legally stop on the south side of Grenville Street, between Bay Street and Elizabeth Street to load/unload passengers or merchandise. However, if a vehicle is left unattended, it is unlawfully parked and subject to appropriate enforcement.

A site inspection by Transportation Services' staff has revealed that Wheel-Trans, delivery trucks, taxis and passenger vehicles cannot gain access to the curb and are forced to double park to load/unload passengers/merchandise to the Ontario Nurses Association located at Premises No. 85 Grenville Street due to the presence of parked vehicles displaying a valid disabled persons parking permit which may legally park for extended periods of time on the south side of Grenville Street, between Bay Street and Elizabeth Street, and in combination with parking on the north side of the street, narrows the unobstructed width of Grenville Street making passage along the street very difficult and adversely impacts on traffic operation and pedestrian safety.

To resolve this situation, a "No Standing Anytime" prohibition could be designated on the south side of Grenville Street, from a point 19.0 metres east of Elizabeth Street to Bay Street. This will facilitate the loading/unloading of vehicle passengers destined to the Ontario Nurses Association but would not permit any vehicles to park or load/unload merchandise and would resolve the operational safety concerns noted above. Although this will result in the loss of an area that is currently used for on-street parking by disabled permit holders as well as for delivery vehicles to halt momentarily to load/unload merchandise, the benefits of providing enhanced operational safety on this section of Grenville Street outweighs the minor inconvenience that the loss of the "No Parking Anytime" area will create.

Grosvenor Street, south side, between Bay Street and Surrey Place

Grosvenor Street, between Bay Street and Surrey Place, operates two-way on a pavement width of 9.8 metres. Parking is prohibited at anytime on the south side of the street. Parking (controlled by parking meters) is permitted on the north side for a maximum period of one hour from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Saturday. Otherwise, parking is permitted for a maximum period of three hours.

A site inspection by Transportation Services' staff has revealed that the presence of parked vehicles displaying a valid disabled persons parking permit, which are legally parked for extended periods of time on the south side of Grosvenor Street, between Bay Street and Surrey Place, and in combination with parking on the north side of the street, results in the narrowing of the unobstructed width of Grenville Street making passage along the street very difficult and adversely impacts on traffic operation and pedestrian safety.

To resolve this situation, a "No Standing Anytime" prohibition could be designated on the south side of Grosvenor Street, between Bay Street to Surrey Place. This will facilitate the loading/unloading of vehicle passengers destined to the Women's College Hospital, but would not permit any vehicles to park or load/unload merchandise and would resolve the operational safety concerns noted above. Although this will result in the loss of an area that is currently used for on-street parking by disabled permit holders, the benefits of providing enhanced operational safety on this section of Grosvenor Street outweighs the minor inconvenience that the loss of the "No Parking Anytime" area will create.

 Elm Street, south side, between McCaul Street and St. Patrick Street

Elm Street, between McCaul Street and Simcoe Street, operates two-way on a pavement width of 9.8 metres. The permit parking system is in operation from 12:01 a.m. to 7:00 a.m., daily (Area 6D) and parking is prohibited from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, on the north side of the street. Otherwise, parking is permitted for a maximum period of three hours. Standing is prohibited at anytime on the south side of the street, from Simcoe Street to the west curb line of Murray Street and from that point to McCaul Street, parking is prohibited at anytime. An on- street disabled persons parking space is designated on the south side of the street, from St. Patrick Street to the west curb line of Murray Street, to facilitate parking opportunities for disabled residents at Premises No. 175 Elm Street.

A site inspection by Transportation Services' staff has revealed that vehicles displaying a valid disabled persons parking permit are legally parked for extended periods of time on the north side of Elm Street, between McCaul Street and Murray Street (outside the permit parking operational hours as indicated above), and on the south side of Elm Street, between McCaul Street and St. Patrick Street, which results in the narrowing of the unobstructed width of Elm Street, making passage along the street very difficult and adversely impacts on traffic operation and pedestrian safety.

To resolve this situation, a "No Standing Anytime" prohibition could be designated on the south side of Elm Street, between McCaul Street and St. Patrick Street. This will facilitate the loading/unloading of vehicle passengers destined to the various medical facilities in the area but would not permit any vehicles to park or load/unload merchandise and would resolve the operational safety concerns noted above. Although this will result in the loss of an area that is currently used for on-street parking by disabled permit holders, the benefits of providing enhanced operational safety on this section of Elm Street outweighs the minor inconvenience that the loss of the "No Parking Anytime" area will create.

Contact Name and Telephone Number:

Curt Russell, Traffic Investigator, 392-7771,

   Director.

CR/cr

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