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Tuesday, 26 June 2007 19:00 |
TDSB VISITOR PARKING PILOT PROJECT
Questions and Answers
Introduction
The TDSB has approved a Pilot Visitor Parking Project at your School or Office, as part of its Parking Management Strategy. The TDSB, in collaboration with Parksmart Inc. (the successful bidder who will manage the Project) will be implementing the Pilot Visitor Parking Project at 10 sites beginning in July 2009. The TDSB and Parksmart held consultations with Principals, Vice Principals and staff at each of these schools, met with Supervisory Officers, Trustees and Parent Councils and with parents, area residents and the broader community at public meetings held at each location.
This project was initiated in 2007 with the focus on creating a new source of revenue for the TDSB through the establishment of an “after hours” commercial paid parking business at our many school locations. The City of Toronto, as part of the consultation process carried out by Parksmart indicated that 9 of the 10 proposed TDSB school parking lots were not zoned for commercial parking purposes. Current City zoning bylaws do however, permit paid parking for visitors to the property allowing this project to proceed at nine of the selected pilot locations.
The purpose of the pilot project is to test the viability of opening TDSB lots to paid visitor parking use, after school hours. During school hours 6:00 am to 6:00 pm the school parking lot will continue to provide free parking for school staff, parents, volunteers and school visitors.
Goals and Benefits of the Pilot Project
• To improve and maintain parking availability for afterhours school use, such as school hosted special events, meetings and continuing education programs.
• To reduce current school time spent on parking issues.
• To ensure staff and volunteers have continued free access to the parking lot.
• To improve safety in the school parking lots and reduce undesirable activities in the lots after 6 pm, through regular monitoring by Parksmart staff.
Frequently Asked Questions
1-What schools and offices are involved in the pilot project?
1 Balmy Beach Community School Ward 16
2 Bedford Park JPS Ward 13
3 Davisville JPS and the Metro School for the Deaf Ward 11
4 Howard PS Ward 7
5 John Fisher JPS Ward 13
6 Kew Beach JPS Ward 16
7 McKee PS Ward 12
8 RH McGregor ES Ward 15
9 Ryerson J and SPS Ward 10
10 Education Centre, 140 Borough Drive Ward 19
2-How does paid parking work?
Pay and Display machine (parking meter) to allow users to pay for short term visitor parking will be installed at each location. Details on the payment processes can be found below.
3- When will this project begin?
The pay and display machines will be installed beginning in July 2009. The School Principal will send notification to all staff, parents and permit holders in June 2009.
4- When will the lot be available for after-hours visitor paid parking?
The Parking lots will be available from 6 pm to 6 am Monday to Friday and 24 hours on Saturday, Sunday, Holidays and during the summer, unless the parking lot is booked for school events during these times.
5 -How will the staff communicate with Parksmart?
Parksmart will be informed of issues by the principal or designate.
6-Will the parking lot be available at no charge for school special events, continuing education classes and meetings?
Yes. Parking patrols will be informed of school events scheduled outside of the normal business hours. Signs will be posted at the entrance to the lot well before the scheduled start of the event, advising that the lot is reserved for school use only and indicate the time the event is anticipated to finish.
7- What happens when Board staff needs to remain at work after hours or for a special event?
Permits will be provided to staff to hang from their rear view mirrors valid for after school hours.
8- How does the Board inform Parksmart that the lot is required for School purposes after hours?
The Principal will provide Parksmart with an event schedule via email. Any variation on the schedule or any one time or special event will be communicated via email or telephone at least one week prior to the event.
9-How will people coming to the area pay for parking and how much will it cost?
A pay and display machine will be installed for hourly use on evenings and weekends. Short term users will park their vehicles, pay at the machine using coins or credit cards and return to their vehicles to display receipt in the windshield. The receipt will show the expiry time and date.
Paid visitor parking will be between 6 pm and 6 am Monday to Friday, unless otherwise posted or reserved for school related activities and,
Saturday, Sunday, Holidays available 24 hrs unless otherwise posted or reserved for school related activities. The hourly rates are posted at each location, and range from $1.50-$2.00 per hour to a maximum of $5.00 for a 12 hour period.
On Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays and in the summer the maximum will be 24hrs.
10- During the winter, how will snow removal be managed?
Vehicles must clear the lot by 6 a.m. This will allow for snow removal early in the morning. Flyers may also be placed on vehicles as the snow season approaches, to remind parkers. Un-authorized vehicles found in the lot after 6 am when snow removable is required will be tagged and towed.
Parksmart will work with the TDSB snow removal contractors to facilitate timely removal to minimize inconvenience to school staff.
11-How will unauthorized vehicles be dealt with when parking in the lot during the day?
Parksmart will assist the school in devising strategies to resolve daytime parking issues.
12- How long is the Pilot Project?
The Parking Pilot Project is for one year. There will be a review of each site chosen in the Pilot Project to determine whether it is desirable to continue as a paid visitor parking site.
Monitoring and Fine Payment
13-How will the lots be monitored to make sure that short term parkers adhere to posted parking rates and policies and do not remain in the lot after 6 a.m. weekdays.
1-Parksmart patrol officers will visit the lot frequently between 6 pm and 6 am weekdays and all day weekends and holidays. They will issue “courtesy notices” with a charge of $10. A “courtesy notice” program is a voluntary payment program and not an official City of Toronto ticket program carrying a mandatory fine.
2-ParkSmart will track license plate numbers of vehicles issued “courtesy notices”. If the vehicle is issued 2 “courtesy notices” and no payment has been made, the officer will then begin issuing City of Toronto tickets with a set fine of $30. Vehicles may be towed if they continue unauthorized parking in the lot during the paid visitor parking program times (between 6 pm and 6 am weekdays and all day weekends and holidays).
3-Officers will follow the “courtesy notice” and City ticketing process for short term parkers who do not display receipts during posted hours for visitor paid parking.
4-If any unauthorized vehicles are in the lot during designated school use hours vehicles may be tagged and towed.
5-The patrol officers will also communicate directly to school administration if they witness undesirable activity or to report on lot conditions.
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