De Lisle Avenue, from Yonge Street to Deer Park Crescent -

Adjustment of Parking Regulations (Midtown)

 The Toronto Community Council recommends that:

 (1)the following report (April 22, 1998) from the Director, Infrastructure Planning and Transportation Division, City Works Services be adopted; and

 (2)Asubject to towing@ signs be posted on the north side of De Lisle Avenue from Yonge Street to Deer Park Crescent.

 The Toronto Community Council reports, for the information of Council, having requested the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services to report to the Urban Environment and Development Committee on the implications of city-wide posting of minimum fines for tow-away signs.

 The Toronto Community Council submits the report (April 22, 1998) from the Director of Infrastructure Planning and Transportation, City Works Services:

 Purpose:

 To enhance vehicular and pedestrian safety and provide evening and night-time on-street parking on De Lisle Avenue.

 Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

 Not applicable.

 Recommendations:

 (1) That the existing stopping at anytime prohibition on the south side of De Lisle Avenue from Yonge Street to a point 71.0 metres west be adjusted to apply from Yonge Street to a point 92 metres west;

 (2) That the existing parking prohibition from 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m., daily, on the south side of De Lisle Avenue from a point 71.0 metres west of Yonge Street to Deer Park Crescent be rescinded;

 (3) That the parking meter operation on the south side of De Lisle Avenue from a point 71.0 metres west of Yonge Street to Deer Park Crescent, which operates from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday to Saturday for a maximum period of one hour, be adjusted to operate from a point 92.0 metres west of Yonge Street to Deer Park Crescent, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday to Saturday for a maximum period of one hour and from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Monday to Saturday for a maximum period of three hours, at a rate of $1.00 per hour;

 (4) That the existing ANo Parking at Anytime@ prohibition on the north side of De Lisle Avenue from a point 71.0 metres west of Yonge Street to Deer Park Crescent be changed to ANo Standing at Anytime@; and

 (5)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 may be required.

 Background:

 Toronto Community Council, at its meeting of April 1, 1998, in considering a communication (February 26, 1998) from Mr. Brian J. Kearney, Deer Park Crescent/De Lisle Avenue Residents= Traffic Group, requesting that the hours that parking is permitted on the south side of De Lisle Avenue be extended, referred the matter to Works and Emergency Services for a report (Clause 96 in Toronto Community Council Report No. 3, Item S).

 Comments:

 The former City of Toronto Council, at its meeting of July 14, 1997, adopted, as amended, Clause 4 of City Services Committee Report No. 9, and in doing so, approved that parking, to be controlled by parking meters, be permitted on the south side of De Lisle Avenue, from Premises No. 22 to Deer Park Crescent, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday to Saturday, for a maximum period of one hour. Council also directed that parking be prohibited on the south side between the same limits from 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. daily. The necessary signs to give effect to the above parking regulations on De Lisle Avenue were posted on February 20, 1998. I note that the required parking meters have not yet been installed but are on back order and should be installed shortly upon delivery.

 Mr. Kearney is requesting that the parking on the south side of De Lisle Avenue also be permitted during the night-time hours (i.e., from 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. of the following day). In conjunction to the above, Works staff have investigated the feasibility of extending the hours of operation of the parking meters (from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday to Saturday) to operate to 11:00 p.m., bearing in mind the high demand for on-street parking in the area, generated in part by nearby theatres and restaurants.

 On the other hand, since the above-noted regulations were introduced, complaints have been received from the Toronto Parking Authority regarding congestion created by vehicles parking both legally and illegally on the south side of De Lisle Avenue in the vicinity of access/egress point to the Toronto Parking Authority lot located on the north side of De Lisle Avenue, west of Yonge Street. These parked vehicles have resulted in insufficient turning space for many vehicles attempting to exit the parking lot.

 Further, by letter dated April 6, 1998 from Acting Staff Inspector G. Stewart, No. 53 Division, the Toronto Police Service has advised that numerous vehicles, bearing valid disabled persons parking permits, are often parked on the north side of De Lisle Avenue, in the parking prohibited zone, for extended periods of time. This, in combination with the legal parking on the south side of the street, has resulted in the narrowing of the travelled portion of the roadway, causing congestion and safety concerns. The Police have recommended that standing be prohibited at anytime on the entire north side of De Lisle Avenue.

 De Lisle Avenue, from Yonge Street to Deer Park Crescent, operates two-way on a pavement width of 7.3 metres with a forty kilometres per hour maximum speed limit. The following parking regulations are in effect:

 North Side:

• Stopping is prohibited at anytime, from Yonge Street to a point 71.0 metres further west; and

• From a point 71.0 metres west of Yonge Street to Deer Park Crescent:

 a. Stopping is prohibited from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday; and

 b. Parking is prohibited at anytime.

 South Side:

• Stopping is prohibited at anytime, from Yonge Street to a point 71.0 metres further west; and

• From a point 71.0 metres west of Yonge Street to Deer Park Crescent:

 a.Parking is prohibited from 8:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m., daily;

 b.Parking, controlled by meters, is allowed for a maximum period of one hour from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday to Saturday.

 Measures To Reduce Traffic Congestion

 Works staff have investigated measures to reduce traffic congestion on De Lisle Avenue west of Yonge Street. Site investigations conducted by staff have confirmed the observations of the Parking Authority of Toronto and the Toronto Police Service as described above.

 Accordingly, Recommendations Nos. 1 and 4 would discourage vehicles from parking in proximity to the main driveway to the Parking Authority of Toronto parking lot and at the same time, prevent anyone from parking on the north side of De Lisle Avenue, thereby enhancing the safe movement of traffic on this street. I note that while the introduction of the standing prohibition noted in Recommendation No. 4 would preclude vehicles from standing while loading of goods and merchandise (and prohibit parking by vehicles bearing disabled persons parking permits), the loading/unloading of passengers would still be permitted.

 Extension of Parking Meter Operational Times

 In consultation with Councillor Adams and representatives of the Deer Park Crescent/De Lisle Avenue Residents= Association, Works staff have concluded that the suggestion to rescind the overnight parking prohibition on the south side of De Lisle Avenue has merit. Further, in evaluating this request, staff have determined that it would be desirable to extend the parking meter hours of operation which currently terminate at 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., Monday to Saturday, as there is a high demand for parking in this area (between 8:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m, a three hour parking limit would be in force) to ensure parking turnover and equitable use of these parking spaces. This proposal will result in increased parking opportunities for patrons of the numerous retail/commercial establishments located nearby on Yonge Street and St. Clair Avenue as well as for the residents of De Lisle Avenue and their visitors.

 Accordingly, the existing parking regulations on the south side of De Lisle Avenue should be amended as noted in Recommendation Nos. 2 and 3, above.

 Contact Name and Telephone Number:

 Thomas L. McCulloch, Traffic Investigator.

Gary O=Neil, Traffic Analyst.

392-7771