Implementation of Area Based Permit Parking in the

Community of East York, Exemption of Permit Holders from the

One, Two and Three Hour Parking Restrictions; and

Exemption of Disabled Permit Holders from Permit Parking Regulations

The East York Community Council recommends that the following report (January 4, 2000) from the Manager, Right-of-Way Management, Transportation Services, District 1, be adopted:

Purpose:

To report on the implementation of area based permit parking.

Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

Funds to undertake the necessary signage adjustments/installation in the estimated amount of $3,000.00 can be accommodated in Transportation Services Division Interim Financing and is available in Account No. TP0126.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1) Permit Parking By-law No. 20-96 of the former Borough of East York be amended to incorporate new permit parking areas as attached in Appendix 'A' of this report;

(2) Permit Parking By-law No. 20-96 and Traffic By-law No. 92-93 of the former Borough of East York be amended to exempt permit holders from any time limit parking regulations including the statutory three hour limit providing the street is licensed for permit parking and that the permit holder displays the corresponding permit;

(3) Disabled Persons Parking By-law No. 34-93 of the former Borough of East York be amended to exempt disabled permit holders from any permit parking regulations; and

(4) the appropriate City officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto, including the introduction of all necessary bills.

Background:

Councillor Michael Prue has requested staff of Works and Emergency Services to initiate the necessary measures to encompass many of the existing licensed streets within the East York community into 8 permit parking areas and exempt permit holders parking on authorized permit parking streets from the one, two and three hour parking restrictions.

Comments:

The permit parking system in the East York community consists of two existing permit parking areas and approximately 40 streets or sections of streets authorized for permit parking on a street specific basis. Presently, the demand for on-street parking on many of the streets in the East York community including the existing permit parking areas exceeds 75% space allocation and in some instances are fully subscribed.

The benefits of area based permit parking is the flexibility it provides permit holders to park on other licensed streets within their designated permit parking area. Residents unable to park on the street they reside can legally park on a nearby licensed street provided it is within their designated permit parking area. This parking arrangement is especially effective in areas that of high demand with restrictive parking regulations.

The implementation of permit parking on an area basis, as outlined in Appendix 'A' of this report, provides a geographical grouping of streets already licensed.

In many of the East York neighbourhoods, the high demand for on-street parking can be contributed to the proximity of these neighbourhoods to successful commercial areas, institutions as well as the subway system, all of which contribute to a competitive environment for the availability of on-street parking.

Various levels of enforcement such as the lenient 3-hour limit to progressively more restrictive one hour maximum parking limit have been used as a deterrent for long term parking. Although these measures are successful, they do not exempt permit holders and as a result, parking exclusivity for residents can only be obtained for overnight parking only.

Exempting permit holders with no available off street parking from the one, two and three hour restrictions would provide these residents long term parking on an authorized permit parking street.

Furthermore, disabled permit holders should also be exempt from any permit parking regulations and therefore be consistent with the permit parking systems in the former Cities of York and Toronto.

Conclusions:

The residential on-street parking demand in many East York neighbourhoods is not unique and is quite similar to that of the former City of Toronto. However, the alternatives or options in the East York community to find available on-street parking are limited. The implementation of permit parking on an area basis, as outlined in Appendix 'A' of this report, will provide residents with no available off-street parking a place to park in their neighbourhood.

Contact:

Elio Capizzano, Supervisor, Permits Administration

Telephone: 392-7878, Fax: 392-7465

E-mail: ecapizza@toronto.ca

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The East York Community Council also had before it during consideration of the foregoing matter a communication (December 16, 1999) from Councillor Michael Prue forwarding a copy of a communication (December 10, 1999) addressed to the Manager, Transportation Services, District 1, requesting her to submit a report to the East York Community Council with respect to parking enforcement on Springdale Boulevard.