The City of Toronto will re-open registration for CurbTO temporary parking pick-up zones to help support main street businesses while Toronto is in the Grey – Lockdown category of the Province of Ontario’s COVID-19 response framework.
Throughout the summer, around 100 Temporary Parking Pick-Up Zones helped by re-purposing parking locations along main streets for short-term parking (no more than 10 minutes). Potential customers and delivery agents have used them to expedite food, medicine and other merchandise pick-ups by making parking spots immediately available near main street businesses offering curbside pick-up and delivery.
Blue signs are put in place to identify the temporary parking locations and City staff are working with Toronto Police Service Parking Enforcement to plan enforcement and help ensure that the designated parking locations are used appropriately.
With Toronto in the Grey – Lockdown category of the Province of Ontario’s COVID-19 response framework, the message from Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health is that the best way to stop the spread of COVID-19 is for residents to stay home and only go out for essentials. Making short-term parking available for curbside pick-up or delivery services supports both public health requirements and local businesses.
Businesses with available nearby parking lots are encouraged to use that space to accommodate temporary curbside pick-up locations.
The CurbTO program first launched in April and, at its peak in early summer, the program supported more than 200 locations while also helping to keep people safer from virus spread and respecting public health direction. Fifty-six sites are still active on City streets.
Main street businesses and BIAs can register or learn more about the program at toronto.ca/curbto.
Quote:
“This virus continues to threaten the health and safety of our residents and hurt our local, small businesses. Even in lockdown and while we all follow the advice of our public health officials and stay home as much as possible, we will not stop doing everything we can to find safe ways to support these businesses. Bringing back registration for our CurbTO temporary parking zones will make it safer, more convenient and easier for pick-ups and deliveries is a common-sense way we can help.”
– Mayor John Tory
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