Item - 2020.TE19.53

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council authorize the amendments to parking regulations on Wellington Street East, between Yonge Street and Church Street, as described in Attachment 1: Parking Amendments - Wellington Street East attached to the Letter (October 14, 2020) from Councillor Wong-Tam.

At its December 13, 2016 meeting, City Council adopted Item TE20.44 entitled "Road Alterations - Wellington Street East, Church Street, and Front Street Intersection" and approved parking amendments on the north side of Wellington Street East, between Yonge Street and Church Street, as part of the Wellington Street Revitalization project. This streetscape project has unfortunately seen multiple delays but is planned to begin in 2021.

At its November 7, 2017 meeting, City Council adopted Item TE27.97 entitled "Parking Regulations - Wellington Street East" and approved the temporary amendments to parking regulations until as such time as the proposed streetscape improvements are completed, on the north side of Wellington Street East, between Yonge Street and Church Street, in order to allow parking machines operating during the utility work before the construction of streetscape improvements. The intent was to allow for some revenue to be generated while the utility work was proceeding. The parking meters and signage were later removed by Toronto Hydro and not reinstated.  As a result there is no clarity on the regulations and no means to enforce the temporary parking amendments.

Transportation Services has received a request from St. Lawrence Market Neighbourhood Business Improvement Area (BIA) to reinstate the parking regulations on the north side of this section of Wellington Street East between Yonge Street and Church Street as previously passed by Council in 2016. In an effort to support Wellington Street East restaurants who have been hit with the dual disruptions of utility work and a pandemic, the BIA received permission to “paint out” the future streetscape on the north side that was approved by City Council. This has allowed for both the extension of CafeTO patios as well as providing wider pedestrian space to physically distance, create some colourful whimsy as well as helping improve intersection safety concerns at the Church Street intersection.

With the utility work set to be completed this year and streetscape construction occurring next year, reverting the parking regulations would allow the St. Lawrence Market Neighbourhood BIA’s work to remain unimpeded by traffic and help normalize the future operation of Wellington Street East.

As the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) operates a transit service on Wellington Street East, City Council approval of this report is required.