May 7, 1998
To:Toronto Community Council
From:Andrew Koropeski, Director, Infrastructure Planning and Transportation, City Works Services
Subject:Victoria Street, west side, between Dundas Street East and Gould Street - Prohibition of stopping at anytime.
(Downtown)
Purpose:
This proposal is intended to deter illegal parking and to enhance safety for motorists and pedestrians on the street.
Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
Not applicable.
Recommendations:
(1)That the parking prohibition at anytime on the west side of Victoria Street, between Dundas Street East and Gould
Street, be rescinded;
(2)That stopping be prohibited at anytime on the west side of Victoria Street, between Dundas Street East and Gould
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 a representative of Ryerson University and in consultation with Downtown Councillor Kyle Rae, I have
investigated prohibiting stopping at anytime on the west side of Victoria Street, between Dundas Street East and Gould
Street to deter illegal parking and to improve sight lines for motorists and pedestrians.
Victoria Street, between Dundas Street East and Gould Street operates two-way on a pavement width of 8.5 metres.
Parking is prohibited at anytime on both sides of this street. This section of Victoria Street provides vehicular access to
Ryerson University=s parking garage on the west side of the street, facilitates curbside delivery to street level businesses on
the east side of the street and, in conjunction with Gould Street, forms a link between Dundas Street East and Yonge Street
for motorists circumventing turn prohibitions at the Dundas/Yonge intersection.
A site inspection has revealed that vehicles use the street generally for the above-noted purposes. However, along with
delivery vehicles that appeared to be parked (as opposed to making a delivery), several vehicles, some displaying valid
Disabled Person Parking Permits (DPPP) in the windshield, were parked randomly on both sides of this street, many for
extended periods of time. Although vehicles with a DPPP were considered to be legally parked under the parking
exemptions afforded persons with disability permits, parking along both sides of this street obstructed vehicular passage
and reduced advance sightlines between pedestrians crossing Victoria Street and vehicles travelling on the street.
Based on our assessment, stopping should be prohibited at anytime on the west side of the street. This would potentially
improve advance sightlines between motorists and pedestrians and, assuming there is general compliance with the
prohibition, reduce traffic congestion and enhance traffic flow on this section of Victoria Street. Inconvenience for nearby
business proprietors would be negligible. Stopping might also be prohibited on the east side of Victoria Street. However,
this would significantly inconvenience business proprietors requiring curbside deliveries at Premises Nos. 277-285 Victoria
Street and motorists who normally stop momentarily to pick-up or drop-off persons at the Ryerson University campus
buildings.
Although alternative off-street parking facilities are available, disabled persons might also experience some inconvenience
if stopping were prohibited on the east side of the street. Therefore, the parking prohibition on the east side of the street
should be retained but to enhance motorists= awareness of the provisions associated with the parking prohibition, Works
staff will augment the current No Parking Anytime signs with Loading Only tabs to discourage would-be illegal parkers.
Contact Name and Telephone Number:
Curt Russell, 392-7771,
Director.
CR/cr
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