Parking on the North Side - Front Street East, from

Trinity Street to Cherry Street - Provision of Parking on the

South Side and Longer Term (Don River)

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

Purpose:

To increase the number of parking spaces on this street, enhance parking opportunity and extend the allowable parking duration on this section of Front Street East to satisfy the requirements of business clients.

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(1)That the parking prohibition at anytime be rescinded on the south side of Front Street East from a point 36.0 metres east of Trinity Street to a point 33.5 metres west of Cherry Street;

(2)That the one hour, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday parking regulation be rescinded on the north side of Front Street East from Trinity Street to a point 30.5 metres west of Cherry Street; and

(3) 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 Councillor Pam McConnell, Transportation Services staff have examined the feasibility of allowing parking on the south side of Front Street East between Trinity Street and Cherry Street to increase the number of parking spaces on this street and enhance parking opportunity for patrons of local businesses.

The subject section of Front Street East is a collector road operating two-way with a pavement width of 9.45 metres. Parking is prohibited at anytime on the south side and on the north side from Cherry Street to a point 30.5 metres west. Elsewhere on the north side, parking is allowed for a maximum period of one hour from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday and otherwise for a maximum period of three hours. About 2,500 vehicles daily travel on this section of Front Street East. Adjacent land use is primarily light industrial at the present time.

The 9.45 metre pavement width of Front Street East is marginal to allow two-sided parking with two-way traffic operation. The 5.45 metre unimpeded width of the road that will remain between the rows of parked vehicles is about ½ metre less in width than staff would prefer to ensure operational safety. This is somewhat of a concern in this instance as adjacent businesses generate trucking activity and there is a likelihood of vehicles travelling in opposing directions being unable to pass each other if one of the vehicles is a truck.

Notwithstanding, based on our assessment and the apparent need for additional parking in the area, staff recommend that the parking prohibition on the south side of Front Street East between a point 36.0 meters east of Trinity Street and a point 33.5 meters west of Cherry Street, be rescinded and in place thereof that parking be allowed for three hours (the unsigned City-wide maximum period). This would provide about 18 parking spaces on the south side of the street. The current parking prohibition would be retained within 36.0 meters of Trinity Street and 33.5 meters of Cherry Street to ensure that an unimpeded turning radius is maintained for semi-trailer trucks entering the street.

We also recommend that the one hour 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday maximum parking restriction on the north side of Front Street East from Trinity Street to a point 30.4 meters west of Cherry Street be rescinded and that parking be allowed for a maximum period of three hours.

Although allowing parking on both sides of Front Street East as noted above for a maximum period of three hours will satisfy the parking requirements of business patrons, we stress that it is not the function of the street system to facilitate parking by staff of nearby businesses for the duration of their shift. We suspect that this might occur on Front Street East if the Recommendations of this report are approved. In this regard, staff will monitor this situation and the general operating efficiency of the street during the coming summer and advise Councillors McConnell and Layton of our findings.

Contact Name and Telephone Number:

Ron Hamilton, Supervisor of Traffic Engineering, District 1