Conversion of a "No Parking" Zone
to a "No Stopping" Zone - Yorkville Avenue from
Avenue Road to Hazelton Avenue (Midtown)
The Toronto Community Council recommends the adoption of the following report (April23,1999) from Director,
Transportation Services, District 1:
Purpose:
To improve traffic flow on Yorkville Avenue in the vicinity of Avenue Road.
Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
Funds to cover the cost of the signage adjustments in the estimated amount of $500.00 are contained in the Transportation
Services Division 1999 Current Budget request.
Recommendations:
(1)That the "No Parking Anytime" prohibition in effect on both sides of Yorkville Avenue between Avenue Road and
Bellair Street be rescinded;
(2)That parking be prohibited at anytime on both sides of Yorkville Avenue between Bellair Street and a point 49 metres
east of Avenue Road;
(3)That stopping be prohibited at anytime on both sides of Yorkville Avenue between Avenue Road and a point 49
metres east of Avenue Road; and
(4)That the appropriate City officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect to the
foregoing including the introduction in Council of any Bills that may be required.
Comment:
At the request of the Bloor-Yorkville B.I.A. Traffic Committee and in consultation with Midtown Councillors John Adams
and Ila Bossons, Transportation Services staff investigated establishing a "No Stopping at Anytime" prohibition on both
sides of Yorkville Avenue in the vicinity of Avenue Road to relieve the traffic bottleneck created by vehicles stopped at
both curbs on Yorkville Avenue close to its intersection with Avenue Road.
Yorkville Avenue between Hazelton Avenue and Avenue Road operates one-way westbound on a 7.3 m wide pavement
and carries about 2,400 vehicles per day. Currently, parking is prohibited at anytime on both sides of Yorkville Avenue
between Bellair Street and Avenue Road. On the south side of the street at the east property line of the Four Seasons Hotel
there is a private laneway from Cumberland Street through to Yorkville Avenue. Vehicles stopped on the north side of
Yorkville Avenue opposite this laneway and/or vehicles stopped on either side of Yorkville Avenue just west of this
laneway cause maneuvering problems for vehicles, particularly delivery trucks exiting the hotel, trying to access Yorkville
Avenue. This problem is often compounded by traffic queues, created by motorists desiring to make westbound left turns at
Avenue Road. The queues are primarily caused by the heavy east/west pedestrian movements across Avenue Road at the
south side of the intersection and illegally parked vehicles narrowing the street.
In order to accommodate vehicles queuing back from the intersection while at the same time, keeping the private lane from
being obstructed by illegally parked vehicles, the existing "No Parking at Anytime" prohibition on both sides of the
roadway should be changed to a "No Stopping at Anytime" prohibition on both sides of Yorkville Avenue, from Avenue
Road to a point 49 m east thereof (i.e., to the east side of the access way on the east side of the Four Seasons Hotel). I note
that the introduction of this "No Stopping at Anytime" prohibition would preclude tour bus loading that is currently taking
place and require that the associated "tour bus signs" be relocated east of the proposed "No Stopping" area.
Implementation of the above "No Stopping at Anytime" zone should clear this section of Yorkville Avenue of parked
vehicles and thus improve traffic flow.
Contact Name and Telephone Number:
Michael J. Harris, Supervisor Traffic Engineering, 392-7711
