Installation of Parking Meters - Lower Jarvis Street,

East Side, from Lake Shore Boulevard

East to The Esplanade (Downtown)

The Toronto Community Council recommends the adoption of the following report (March 16, 1999) from the Director, Transportation Services, District 1:

Purpose:

To authorize the installation of parking meters and a commercial loading zone on the east side of Lower Jarvis Street, between Lake Shore Boulevard East and The Esplanade.

Funding Source, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

Funds to implement the required signage changes in the estimated amount of $1,500.00 can be accommodated within the 1999 Transportation Services Division Operating Budget request. All expenses pertaining to the installation of the parking metres are within the purview of the Toronto Parking Authority.

Recommendations:

(1)That parking meters be installed on the east side of Lower Jarvis Street, from a point 63.0 metres south of The Esplanade to a point 61 metres further south thereof, to operate from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday to Friday and from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday for a maximum period of one hour; from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Monday to Friday for a maximum period of two and one half hours; and from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, for a maximum period of three hours, at a rate of $1.00 per hour;

(2)That a loading zone (to be designated as No Parking Anytime) be established on the east side of Lower Jarvis Street, from a point 51.0 metres south of The Esplanade to a point 12 metres further south thereof;

(3)That standing be prohibited at anytime on the east side of Lower Jarvis Street, from The Esplanade to a point 51.0 metres south thereof in conjunction with the relocation of the existing Toronto Transit Commission bus stop;

(4)That the current No Parking Anytime prohibition on both sides of Lower Jarvis Street, from Lake Shore Boulevard East to a point 61.0 metres north of the railway overpass, be replaced with a No Stopping Anytime prohibition; and

(5)That the appropriate City Officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to implement the foregoing, including the introduction in Council of any Bills that may be required.

Comments:

In response to a request from adjacent business proprietors and in consultation with Downtown Councillor Kyle Rae and representatives of the Toronto Housing Authority, Transportation Services staff have reviewed the feasibility of installing parking meters and/or a lay-by to accommodate parking and loading, on the east side of Lower Jarvis Street, south of The Esplanade, in the vicinity of Premises Nos. 45 to 71 Lower Jarvis Street.

Under the provisions of the Metropolitan Toronto Uniform Traffic By-law, stopping is currently prohibited from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, on both sides of Lower Jarvis Street between Lake Shore Boulevard East and The Esplanade and parking is prohibited at other times. In the vicinity of the existing Toronto Transit Commission bus stop located on the east side of Lower Jarvis Street, approximately 74.4 metres south of The Esplanade, standing is prohibited (Transit Stop Zone).

Illegal boulevard parking operations are taking place on the east side of Lower Jarvis Street, fronting Premises Nos. 45 to 71. The boulevard is being used extensively during the daytime hours by employees/patrons of the commercial establishments located in these premises. This boulevard parking has been occurring in spite of the fact that an application to legalize same to Works and Emergency Services cannot be approved because of pedestrian/vehicular conflicts and the resultant safety concerns. Vehicles belonging to customers and to the businesses are being tagged while parking/loading on the boulevard. While the illegal boulevard parking should not be allowed to continue, it is recognized that the need for accessible parking/loading for the businesses is desirable.

Accordingly, the installation of metered parking spaces and a commercial loading zone, as identified in Recommendation Nos. 1 and 2, above, would mitigate the potential conflict between pedestrians and motorists and clearly define legal parking and loading spaces without jeopardizing the operational efficiency and safety of the street. The Toronto Transit Commission has agreed to relocate their bus stop to a point 20.5 metres south of The Esplanade to accommodate this proposal and standing should be prohibited the area of the bus stop (Transit Stop Zone) as noted in Recommendation No. 3. Should Council approve the above, a 12 metre long commercial loading zone (located immediately to the south of the Transit Stop Zone) and nine metered parking spaces would be provided. To mitigate any potential illegal or improper parking that may occur at the south end of the metered parking stalls, a stopping prohibited zone should be installed as noted in Recommendation No. 4.

As an alternative to the above, consideration was also given to constructing a lay-by on the east side of Lower Jarvis Street, in front of Premises No. 45 - 71. While the provision of a lay-by is technically feasible, the cost of such an installation would be quite high (estimated to be in excess of $100,000.00). A check of Department records determined that the section of sidewalk on the east side of Lower Jarvis Street, south of The Esplanade, is scheduled for reconstruction within the next five years. At the time the reconstruction is undertaken, a parking lay-by could be installed at reduced cost. Under this scenario, the parking spaces would be available all day and would not interfere with traffic operation on Lower Jarvis Street.

In light of the above, and as an interim solution, it is recommended that the proposed parking meter/commercial loading zone operation be approved.

Contact Name and Telephone Number

Frank Bozzo, Traffic Investigator, District 1, 392-7892