STAFF REPORT

February 1, 2000

To: Toronto Community Council

From: Director, Transportation Services, District 1

Subject: Hilton Avenue, from a point 36 metres north of the west branch of Austin Terrace to a point 96 metres further north (Hillcrest Public School) - Establishment of a Student Pick-up/Drop-off Area

(Midtown)

Purpose:

To report on a request to adjust the parking regulations in front of Hillcrest Public School to accommodate the provision of a Student Pick-up/Drop-off Area to provide for short-term parking for parents/guardians of students attending the school.

Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

Funds to undertake the necessary signage adjustments in the estimated amount of $500.00 are available in the Transportation Services Division 2000 Operating Budget interim appropriations.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1) the "No Parking Anytime" regulation on the west side of Hilton Avenue, from the west branch of Austin Terrace to Nina Street, be rescinded;

(2) parking be permitted for a maximum period of ten minutes on the west side of Hilton Avenue, from a point 36 metres north of the west branch of Austin Terrace to a point 96 metres further north, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday to Friday;

(3) parking be prohibited on the west side of Hilton Avenue, from a point 36 metres north of the west branch of Austin Terrace to a point 96 metres further north, from 3:30 p.m. of one day to 8:30 a.m. of the next following day, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, and at anytime on Saturday and Sunday;

(4) parking be prohibited at anytime on the west side of Hilton Avenue, from the west branch of Austin Terrace to a point 36 metres north and from a point 132 metres north of the west branch of Austin Terrace to Nina Street;

(5) entry be prohibited from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, to Hilton Avenue at the west branch of Austin Terrace; and

(6) the appropriate City Officials be requested to take whatever action is required to give effect thereto, including the introduction in Council of any Bills that are required.

Comments:

Transportation Services received a request from Midtown Councillors Ila Bossons and John Adams to investigate the feasibility of delineating a Student Pick-up/Drop-off Area on the west side of Hilton Avenue, from a point 36 metres north of the west branch of Austin Terrace to a point 96 metres further north, to enable parents/guardians to park their vehicles for short periods of time while accompanying their children to/from Hillcrest Public School.

Hilton Avenue, between Nina Avenue and the west branch of Austin Terrace, is a two-way residential street operating on a 7.4 metre pavement width with a maximum speed limit of 40 kilometres per hour. Parking is prohibited at anytime on the west side of the subject section of Hilton Avenue while on the east side, parking is restricted to permit holders only from 12:01 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., daily and parking is otherwise permitted for a maximum period of three hours.

The west side of Hilton Avenue, between a point approximately 36 metres north of the west branch of Austin Terrace and a point approximately 96 metres further north is presently designated as a Student Pick-up/Drop-off Area and signs to giving effect to this designation have been installed. No amendment to Chapter 400 of the City of Toronto Municipal Code is required to authorize the installation of these signs. However, the present parking prohibition prevents motorists from legally leaving their vehicles unattended while children are accompanied into the school and as a result, many parents' vehicles have received parking tags.

In order to provide parents/guardians with legal, short-term parking while they accompany their children to/from Hillcrest Public School, it is necessary to amend the current parking regulations on the west side of the subject section of Hilton Avenue, as noted in Recommendation Nos. 2 and 3, to allow parking for a maximum period of ten minutes to coincide with the school's starting, lunch and dismissal times.

Given the relatively narrow pavement width of Hilton Avenue (7.4 metres), and to ensure that emergency vehicles are not encumbered as a result of vehicles parked on both sides of this section of Hilton Avenue (vehicles parked on both sides of the street would leave only 3 metres of road space for two-way traffic), it is also recommended that entry to Hilton Avenue, northbound from the west branch of Austin Terrace, be prohibited during the Student Pick-up/Drop-off Area hours of operation, as noted in Recommendation No. 4, above.

Contact:

Bob Bonner, Traffic Investigator

Telephone: (416) 392-7711

Fax: (416) 392-0816

E-mail: bbonner@toronto.ca

Director

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