HomeMy WebLinkAboutDTS-09-020 - Permit Only Parking - Grand River BlvdDevelopment&
Techrrica~ Services
Report To: Development & Technical Services Committee
Date of Meeting: 2009 February 9
Submitted By: John McBride, Director of Transportation Planning
Prepared By: Cameron Bevers, Traffic Technician (741-2369)
Ward(s) Involved: Chicopee-Grand River ~2)
Date of Report: 2009 January 22
Report No.: DTS-09-020
Subject: PERMIT ONLY PARKING -GRAND RIVER BOULEVARD
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That Permit Only Parking be implemented on the north side of Grand River Boulevard from
the east intersection of Underhill Crescent to a point 87 metres east of the intersection of
Morrison Road;
That Permit Only Parking be implemented on the south side of Grand River Boulevard from
the west intersection of Chandos Drive to a point 67 metres west of the intersection of
Morrison Road; and further,
That the Uniform Traffic By-law be amended accordingly.
BACKGROUND:
In 2008, Transportation Planning recommended the introduction of a Permit Only Parking
system in the neighbourhood adjacent to Freeport Hospital (DTS Report 08-014). The streets
included in the Permit Only Parking area included sections of Morrison Road, Manor Drive and
Lewis Crescent. Since the program was introduced in early 2008, Transportation Planning has
received requests from residents to expand the existing Permit Only Parking area to include
other streets in the neighbourhood, particularly Grand River Boulevard. According to the
comments received from residents, the introduction of Permit Only Parking has caused an
increase in on-street parking on the streets lying just beyond the limits of the existing Permit
Only Parking area by Freeport Hospital visitors and employees.
Currently, on-street parking is permitted on both sides of Grand River Boulevard between
Underhill Crescent and Chandos Drive for three (3) consecutive hours, as outlined in the City of
Kitchener Uniform Traffic By-law No. 2007-138. Efforts to address residents' concerns through
the enforcement of existing parking regulations have not effectively addressed the problem.
REPORT:
Transportation Planning has been monitoring the on-street parking in the neighbourhood since the
Permit Only Parking program was introduced last year. A significant reduction in on-street parking
has been noted within the designated Permit Only Parking areas on Morrison Road, Manor Drive
and Lewis Crescent. However, a moderate increase in parking has been observed in certain
locations. The majority of the excess on-street parking seems to be concentrated on Grand River
Boulevard, adjacent to the intersection of Morrison Road.
In order to address requests to expand Permit Only Parking to include this section of Grand
River Boulevard, Transportation Planning mailed questionnaires and comment sheets to all
property owners in the area of Grand River Boulevard and Morrison Road in October 2008. The
purpose of this correspondence was to determine whether there was sufficient support from
residents to introduce Permit Only Parking on Grand River Boulevard between Underhill
Crescent and Chandos Drive. Out of the 47 surveys delivered, there were 20 responses
received. The survey results were as follows:
• 13 (65%) were in favour of the introduction of Permit Only Parking
• 7 (35%) were opposed to the introduction of Permit Only Parking
Based on this feedback, there is majority support from responding residents to expand the
existing Permit Only Parking area to include the section of Grand River Boulevard between
Underhill Crescent and Chandos Drive.
Some of the residents who opposed the introduction of the Permit Only Parking system
indicated on their comment sheets that the City should instead approach Freeport Hospital to
discuss the parking fees charged by the hospital in their off-street parking lots. While there
have been discussions in the past between the City and the hospital administrators regarding
the parking fees charged at Freeport Hospital, it must be noted that the City has very limited
leverage in terms of addressing the parking fees charged in private off-street parking facilities.
If Council approves the expansion of the Permit Only Parking program to include Grand River
Boulevard, each resident whose property fronts onto the Permit Only Parking area would receive
two (2) Residential Visitor Parking Permits at no charge. This will allow legitimate visitors of
residents to park on the street in designated Permit Only Parking areas, without receiving a
parking ticket. The Permit Only Parking program will thus accommodate on-street residential
visitor parking, while effectively prohibiting all other on-street parking.
In order to maintain proper roadway maintenance, such as street cleaning and ploughing, and to
discourage permit abuse, permit holders will be required to honour the City-wide three (3)
consecutive hour parking time limit, and the winter (December 1St -March 31St) overnight parking
prohibition. The Permit Only Parking program is proposed to be in effect seven (7) days per
week, 24 hours per day.
Transportation Planning staff feel that the introduction of Permit Only Parking on this section of
Grand River Boulevard will help to further discourage the use of on-street parking in the
neighbourhood by Freeport Hospital visitors and employees. Accordingly, Transportation
Planning recommends that on-street parking be prohibited except by permit on the north side of
Grand River Boulevard from the east intersection of Underhill Crescent to a point 87 metres east of
the intersection of Morrison Road and on the south side of Grand River Boulevard from the west
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intersection of Chandos Drive to a point 67 metres west of the intersection of Morrison Road and
that the City of Kitchener Uniform Traffic By-law #2007-138 be amended accordingly.
Be advised that Transportation Planning will continue to monitor parking patterns in the Freeport
Hospital area.
COMMUNICATIONS:
All residents within the affected area on Grand River Boulevard have received notification
regarding Transportation Planning's proposal to implement Permit Only Parking on Grand River
Boulevard and the DTS meeting date.
Upon Council ratification, all residents whose properties front onto the proposed Permit Only
Parking area will be provided with a letter outlining the conditions of the Permit Only Parking
system, along with their two (2) Residential Visitor Parking Permits.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The approximate cost for installing signs to indicate the limits of the Permit Only Parking area on
Grand River Boulevard is $1,000. These funds will be procured from the existing sign
maintenance budget.
John McBride, Director
Transportation Planning
Cameron Bevers, Traffic Technician
Transportation Planning
CB
Attach.
Ken Carmichael, C.E.T.
Supervisor of Traffic & Parking
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~ DTS-09-020
w `R GRAND RIVER BOULEVARD
PERMIT ONLY PARKING
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Proposed "Permit Only Parking" Regulation
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ Existing "Permit Only Parking" Regulation
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