Provision of a "Student Pick-up/Drop-off Area"

with Short Term Parking - Carlaw Avenue from

Danforth Avenue to McConnell Avenue (Don River)

The Toronto Community Council recommends the adoption of the following report (April1,1999) from the Director, Transportation Services District 1, Works and Emergency Services:

Purpose:

To enhance equitable use of a pick-up/drop-off area and provide short term parking to enable parents or guardians to accompany an infant/toddler directly to/from the school and daycare centre located at Premises No. 690 Carlaw Avenue (Holy Name Catholic School).

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

Funds to undertake the necessary signage adjustments in the estimated amount of $800.00 are contained in the Transportation Services Division 1999 Current Budget request.

Recommendations:

(1)That the parking prohibition at anytime on the west side of Carlaw Avenue between Danforth Avenue and McConnell Avenue, be rescinded;

(2)That parking be allowed for a maximum period of ten minutes from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday on the west side of Carlaw Avenue from a point 86.3 metres south of Danforth Avenue to a point 40.7 metres further south;

(3)That parking be prohibited from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 a.m., Monday to Friday and at anytime Saturday and Sunday, on the west side of Carlaw Avenue from a point 86.3 metres south of Danforth Avenue to a point 40.7 metres further south;

(4)That parking be prohibited at anytime on the west side of Carlaw Avenue, from Danforth Avenue to a point 86.3 metres south;

(5)That parking be prohibited at anytime on the west side of Carlaw Avenue, from a point 127.0 metres south of Danforth Avenue to McConnell Avenue; and

(6)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 Councillors Jack Layton and Pam McConnell on behalf of representatives of Holy Name Catholic School (Premises No. 690 Carlaw Avenue), staff have investigated the feasibility of delineating a "Student Pick-up/Drop-off Area" and allowing short term parking on the west side of Carlaw Avenue between Danforth Avenue and McConnell Avenue to enable parents/guardians to park while accompanying children to/from the school or daycare centre at Holy Name Catholic School.

Carlaw Avenue from Danforth Avenue to McConnell Avenue operates one way southbound on a pavement width of 7.3 metres. Parking is regulated as follows:

West Side

-Parking is prohibited at anytime.

East Side

Parking is allowed by permit only from 12:01 a.m. to 7:00 a.m., daily; and

-Parking is otherwise permitted for a maximum period of three hours.

A "Student Pick- up/Drop-off Area" identifies by means of information signs a specific area on a street in front of a school where parents should stop to pick-up or drop-off students. No amendment to Chapter 400 of the (former) City of Toronto Municipal Code is required to enable the installation of these signs. Several years ago, the Catholic School Board paid for the construction of a lay-by on the west side of Carlaw Avenue in front of the school to provide an area where parents/guardians may stop momentarily to drop-off or pick-up children. However, the present parking prohibition prevents vehicles from legally being left unattended in the lay-by while the driver accompanies a child into the school. Implementation of a 10 minute maximum parking regulation in the lay-by would resolve this problem.

In this instance, a ten minute maximum parking regulation could be implemented from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday (those times when there is the greatest demand for this provision), to enhance equitable use of the pick-up/drop-off area and provide parents/guardians with sufficient time to accompany a child directly to/from the daycare centre or school. The parking prohibition within the defined area of the "Student Pick-up and Drop-off Area" would be maintained at other times.

Since the pick-up/drop-off area would be limited to the lay-by, implementation of this suggestion would not adversely affect the safe and efficient operation of traffic on the travelled portion of Carlaw Avenue but would provide about 5 short term parking/loading spaces.

Contact Name and Telephone Number:

Peter Ip, Traffic Investigator, 392-7771

The Toronto Community Council also submits the report (June 15, 1999) from the Director of Transportation Services, District 1, Works and Emergency Services:

Purpose:

To provide amended recommendations enabling school buses to load/unload passengers and provide a separate pick-up/drop-off area with short term parking so that parents or guardians can accompany an infant/toddler directly to/from the school and daycare centre located at Holy Name Catholic School.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

Funds to undertake the necessary signage adjustments in the estimated amount of $1,000.00 are contained in the Transportation Services Division 1999 Current Budget.

Recommendations:

(1)That the report (April 1, 1999) to Toronto Community Council entitled, "Carlaw Avenue from Danforth Avenue to McConnell Avenue - Provision of a Student Pick-up/Drop-off Area with short term parking (Don River), be received;

(2)That the parking prohibition at anytime on the west side of Carlaw Avenue between Danforth Avenue and McConnell Avenue, be rescinded;

(3)That parking be allowed for a maximum period of ten minutes from 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday on the west side of Carlaw Avenue from a point 83.0 metres south of Danforth Avenue to a point 27.0 metres further south;

(4)That parking be prohibited from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m., Monday to Friday and at anytime Saturday and Sunday, on the west side of Carlaw Avenue from a point 83.0 metres south of Danforth Avenue to a point 27.0 metres further south;

(5)That a "School Bus Loading Zone" be implemented on the west side of Carlaw Avenue from a point 110.0 metres south of Danforth Avenue to a point 44.0 metres further south;

(6)That parking be prohibited at anytime on the west side of Carlaw Avenue:

(a)from Danforth Avenue to a point 83.0 metres south;

(b)from a point 154.0 metres south of Danforth Avenue to McConnell Avenue; 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.

Background:

Toronto Community Council at its meeting of May 26, 1999, had before it a report (April 1, 1999) respecting the provision of a "Student Pick-up and Drop-off Area" with short term parking in front of Holy Name Catholic School (Premises No. 690 Carlaw Avenue) and a related communication from Ms. A. Duncan, representing the school. Consideration of the April 1 report was deferred to the Community Council meeting of June 22, 1999.

In the interim, staff have further consulted with Ms. Duncan and the Ward Councillors' offices to refine the original recommendations.

Comments

Staff of Transportation Services met with Ms. Ann Duncan, Principal of Holy Name Catholic School, who advised us that she represented the school, the daycare centre and the Transportation Committee of the Catholic School Board. The primary issues are school bus loading, student pick-up/drop-off by parents/guardians and traffic flow on Carlaw Avenue.

Carlaw Avenue from Danforth Avenue to McConnell Avenue operates one way southbound on a pavement width of 7.3 metres. A lay-by ranging in width from about 1.5 -2.5 metres is located on the west side of the street in front of the school. Parking is regulated as follows:

West Side

-Parking is prohibited at anytime.

East Side

-Parking is allowed by permit only from 12:01 a.m. to 7:00 a.m., daily; and

-Parking is otherwise permitted for a maximum period of three hours.

Ms. Duncan indicated that the school and the daycare centre have jointly agreed that all of the wider section of the lay-by and a portion of the narrower section should be used to accommodate school buses which currently service the school and that the remainder of the lay-by should be used for short term parking by persons arriving in private vehicles to pick-up or drop-off children at the school/daycare centre.

Based on our assessment, traffic flow on Carlaw Avenue and pedestrian safety in the vicinity of Holy Name Catholic School could be improved by implementing the following:

-A "Student Pick-up/Drop-off Area" on the west side of Carlaw Avenue from a point 83.0 metres south of Danforth Avenue to a point 27.0 metres further south; and

-A "School Bus Loading Zone" on the west side of Carlaw Avenue from a point 110.0 metres south of Danforth Avenue to a point 44.0 metres further south.

The provision of an exclusive "School Bus Loading Zone", where stopping would be prohibited at anytime except by school buses and a separate "Student Pick-up/Drop-off Area" where parking would be permitted for a maximum period of 10 minutes from 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday and prohibited at other times, would:

-address the loading and short term parking requirements at Holy Name School by segregating loading operations by school buses and private vehicles;

-reduce delays incurred by school bus drivers as they wait for private vehicles to pull away from the curb; and

-reduce traffic congestion on Carlaw Avenue caused by school buses double-parking on the traveled portion of the roadway with flashing lights activated during loading/unloading operations.

We note that the proximity of the Danforth Avenue retail district and the high demand for parking that occurs in the immediate area might combine to generate parking in the lay-by by shoppers. This would be most noticeable from 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. This is an unusually long time period during which parking would be legalized in a "Student Pick-up/Drop-off Area". Therefore, if parents/guardians are to be assured equitable use of the 5 parking spaces provided in the lay-by, the 10-minute maximum parking regulation must be strictly enforced.

Contact Name and Telephone Number:

Peter Ip, Traffic Investigator, 392-7771