Item - 2025.IE26.4

The Acting General Manager, Transportation Services, recommends that:

1.  City Council approve a parking signage pilot project of up to eighteen (18) months to evaluate the four (4) signage options, generally as described in the report (November 17, 2025) from the Acting General Manager, Transportation Services and City Council request the Acting General Manager, Transportation Services to report back to City Council on the outcome of the pilot project and recommended next steps.

At its meeting on June 25 and 26, 2025, City Council requested the General Manager of Transportation Services to develop a pilot for improved parking signage. Transportation Services proposes launching a comprehensive Parking Signage Pilot to address longstanding challenges with clarity, visibility, and consistency in Toronto’s parking regulations. Current signage often meets provincial standards but can create confusion when multiple signs are clustered, leading to interpretation delays and high violation rates. In 2024 alone over 1.8 million parking violations notices were issued for curbside infractions. The proposed pilot will introduce four new signage options that include:  

- enhanced regulatory signs with larger fonts, simplified language, and consolidated restrictions;

- informational calendar-style signs for areas with complex time-based rules;

- illuminated digital signs for snow routes, activated during major storm conditions to prevent disruptions to TTC and snow removal operations; and

- enforcement consequence tabs displaying fine amounts or tow-away indicators to reinforce compliance.

The plan is to launch the signage pilot in the Spring 2026 with an evaluation period of up to eighteen (18) months at select locations. The pilot will be evaluated through public feedback, QR code surveys, operational data, and enforcement metrics in collaboration with the Toronto Parking Authority, Toronto Police Service, and the TTC. Findings will inform future citywide improvements to enhance user comprehension, reduce infractions, and support accessibility standards.

The cost of installations to implement the proposed parking signage pilot options at select locations (i.e., 3 to 4 locations per pilot option) is approximately $150,000. Funding will be included in the 2026 Operating Budget submission for Transportation Services for consideration.

The Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer has reviewed this report and agrees with the financial impact information.