Item - 2023.IE9.2

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:  

1. City Council amend Schedule III, Parking Meters, of City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 910, Parking Machines, Parking Meters and Mobile Only Zones, and Schedule XV:  Parking for Restricted Periods, of City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 950, Traffic and Parking, by deleting the entries generally as listed in Attachment 1 to the report (November 15, 2023) from the General Manager, Transportation Services.

2. City Council amend Schedule I, Parking Machines, of City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 910, Parking Machines, Parking Meters and Mobile Only Zones, and Schedule XV: Parking for Restricted Periods, of City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 950, Traffic and Parking, to allow for the introduction of pay-and-display machines for the specified locations by adding the entries generally as listed in Attachment 2 to the report (November 15, 2023) from the General Manager, Transportation Services, as required, once alternate payment systems are put in place for any locations where parking will continue to be permitted.

3. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to introduce the necessary bills to give effect to City Council's decision and City Council authorize the City Solicitor to make any necessary clarifications, refinements, minor modifications, technical amendments, or by-law amendments as may be identified by the City Solicitor or the General Manager, Transportation Services, in order to give effect to City Council's decision.

The General Manager, Transportation Services, is seeking City Council approval to decommission all of the 176 on-street single-space meters which are currently located in various Wards across the City of Toronto and accordingly delete all entries in Schedule III, Parking Meters, of the City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 910, Parking Machines, Parking Meters and Mobile Only Zones. Transportation Services is making this proposal after consulting with the Toronto Parking Authority with respect to the Toronto Parking Authority's experience with the City's on-street single-space meter paid parking program.

Single-space meters have been in operation for a number of decades; however, the equipment is at end-of-life and requires extensive maintenance to continue operation.  As a result of the higher rate of machine failure, low revenue, and high operating expenses, Transportation Services is asking that single-space parking meters be removed from operation.  In some single-space locations, nearby Pay and Display machines can be used by customers in place of single-space meters, while in a select few locations Pay and Display machines are recommended for installation in place of single-space meters to preserve the existing paid parking areas and accordingly new entries will be introduced in Schedule I, Parking Machines, of the City of Toronto Municipal Code Chapter 910, Parking Machines, Parking Meters and Mobile Only Zones. In addition, amendments to Chapter 950, Traffic and Parking will also be introduced to adjust the curbside regulations as a result of the removal of single-space meters at certain locations and introduction of Pay and Display in others.

This is a city-wide initiative to modernize paid parking in the City by removing the high maintenance, low revenue generating single-space meters while keeping pace with modern technology.