Public Commons

Part of Disabled parking/loading signage: The problem

Excerpt #1 from letter signed by Jacqueline White, P. Eng., Manager, Traffic Operations, Toronto and East York District, to Ward 18 Councillor Ana Bailao. Dated February 9, 2012

".....another important factor to keep in mind is that in accordance with applicable regulation, it is the signage that provides legal enforcement authority, not the pavement markings."

May 23, 2012: Court date for parking in disabled loading zone on October 29, 2010.

The Crown said that anyone who is paying attention can see where there is a disabled parking space. The judge reduced the fine to $125. He also said that a courtroom is not an appropriate place to raise any issues other than if a car was or was not standing in a disabled space. He would not allow the large volume of tickets at the site to be brought up in court.

Excerpt #2 from letter signed by Jacqueline White, P. Eng., Manager, Traffic Operations, Toronto and East York District, to Ward 18 Councillor Ana Bailao. Dated February 9, 2012

While the disabled "No Standing" prohibition signage is clearly visible and appropriately placed, the following actions have been/will be taken to augment the visibility of the space: staff have installed a "pay-and-display" single right arrow sign on the existing sign pole at the westerly limit of the accessible loading/unloading zone (see attached photo DSCF-1896) to visually clarify the end of the "pay-and-display" parking and commencement of the accessible loading/unloading zone; in addition our Traffic Signs and Pavement Markings section has been requested to install parking stall border markings on the road to denote the end and commencement of the "pay-and-display" parking areas, east and west of the accessible loading/unloading zone.

These markings will be installed as part of the 2012 Pavement Marking Contract, which is scheduled to run from April to October."

Disabled Parking A

No border markings by March 5, 2013

Disabled Parking F

March 5, 2013 - no changes in signage

Disabled Parking B

Disabled Parking sticker torn off, March 5, 2013

Disabled Parking C

New sticker put on, March 5, 2013

Disabled Parking E

March 5, 2013

Bailao letter re Accessible parking on bloor

Excerpt #3 from letter signed by Jacqueline White, P. Eng., Manager, Traffic Operations, Toronto and East York District, to Ward 18 Councillor Ana Bailao. Dated February 9, 2012

"As you know, City Council, at its meeting of October 24 and 25, 2011, in considering Item MM13.5 - Accessible Parking Permits item MM 13.5, among other things, directed appropriate staff to report on improving regulations, exemptions and enforcement associated with Accessible Parking Permits. We will be including a discussion and recommendation with regard to curb painting in the upcoming report for Committee's and Council's consideration and direction."

The referenced item directed "the appropriate staff to report to the February 6 and 7, 2012 meeting of City Council, through the Government Management Committee, on options for improving regulations, exemptions, and enforcement associated with Accessible Parking Permits, including options for removing exemptions for pay parking."

By March 2013, the City Clerk's office was unable to find any record of this report ever having been made.

Excerpt #4 from letter signed by Jacqueline White, P. Eng., Manager, Traffic Operations, Toronto and East York District, to Ward 18 Councillor Ana Bailao. Dated February 9, 2012

"Accordingly, at the present time, there is no funding or authority to staff to re-introduce painting of curbs."

Excerpt from a letter from David Cayley to Ward 18 Councillor Ana Bailao, Sept.18 2011:

"The attached document says "Disabled Parking control exemption signs may be augmented but not replaced by pavement markings." It does not say that the City doesn't have the authority to use pavement markings (note, for example, that the City Hall parking lot uses HUGE disabled permit markings)."

Excerpt #4 from letter signed by Jacqueline White, P. Eng., Manager, Traffic Operations, Toronto and East York District, to Ward 18 Councillor Ana Bailao. Dated February 9, 2012

"I also note that while it may seem like a minimal cost for one location, there are in the order of 900 accessible on-street parking spaces city-wide."

There are only 62 accessible parking spaces on arterial roads: Excerpt Chapter 903-2 Toronto Municipal Code. Those are locations most likely to distract people with too many signs. Since parking tickets for disabled parking spaces take in well over $1 million a year in fines, the city has enough funds for pavement markings for 62 spaces.

Letters in support of better disabled parking markings

Bloordale BIA

Dig In

Sweet Petes

The Music Therapy Centre