Item - 2011.TE5.32

The Toronto and East York Community Council approved the implementation of a modified, mid-block staggered parking arrangement on Barton Avenue by adopting the following:

1.         Rescinded the parking regulations outlined in Appendix "A" of the report dated January 25, 2011, from the Director, Transportation Services, Toronto and East York District, entitled "Parking Amendments - Barton Avenue, from Christie Street to Bathurst Street".

2.         Approved implementation of the parking regulations outlined in Appendix "B" of the report dated January 25, 2011, from the Director, Transportation Services, Toronto and East York District, entitled "Parking Amendments - Barton Avenue, from Christie Street to Bathurst Street".

3.         Directed the Director, Transportation Services, Toronto and East York District, to determine opportunities to increase the current parking supply on local streets intersecting with Barton Avenue, between Christie Street and Bathurst Street, and report back to the Toronto and East York Community Council in May 2011.

4.         Directed the Director, Transportation Services, Toronto and East York District, to review the effectiveness of these changes and submit to the Toronto and East York Community Council an evaluation report in May 2012.

Transportation Services is reporting on a request from the Toronto and East York Community Council at its meeting of December 10, 2010 (Item TE2.14) on reducing the speed limit and a plan to adjust the parking regulations to a mid-block changeover on Barton Avenue, from Christie Street to Bathurst Street, as a further means of traffic calming on this street.

Traffic patterns and concerns on Barton Avenue have been the subject of a number of reviews over the years, both under wider traffic management plans for the Seaton Village community as well as the street specifically.  Barton Avenue, which is relatively narrow (7.3 metres) for a collector road accommodating two-way traffic with parking allowed, has an aggressive traffic calming/management plan currently in place:

•          speed humps;

•          build-outs of curbs at intersections to narrow the pavement;

•          all-way stop controls;

•          a 30 km/h speed limit, the lowest permitted on any Toronto street;

•          staggered parking arrangement, switching from one side to the other on a block-to-block basis; and

•          turn restrictions in force by by-law from Christie Street (which are currently suspended in the field pending review).

Based on staff's investigation, no further reduction in the speed limit or amendment to the current parking regulations on this street are recommended or required from an operational or safety perspective.