Chapter 27: Traffic and Transportation

27(1) Traffic By-law Amendments

That a policy be established authorizing the Division Head - Transportation to initiate changes to all schedules in the Traffic By-law directly through the City Clerk and City Council in the form of by-law amendments in accordance with Appendix 27(1A) and that staff continue to process supportive reports relating to changes to by-laws on all those matters where an awareness of public concern has been identified, or significant changes are contemplated which would normally require extensive public liaison and/or matters which involve significant expenditures in current or capital budgets.

ADOPTED SEPTEMBER 7, 1982 [27(1) AUG 1999]

27(2) Traffic & Transportation Guidelines

That the following traffic and transportation guidelines be adopted:

(a) prohibit new accesses to arterial roads except where none now exists;

(b) limit access to arterial roads to one per property and discourage land severances that would require new access;

(d) require where possible, deed or agreement conditions that would limit objection by abutting property owners to future raised medians;

(e) prohibit any structure within the future required property lines of designated intersections;

(f) adhere to accepted technical warrants for all way stops, traffic signals, pedestrian crossovers and cul-de-sac length;

(g) discourage the isolation of neighbourhoods by requiring that interconnecting streets be provided in subdivisions;

(h) discourage structures and accesses within the fill or cut lines approaching any major railway crossing; and

(i) acquire property for future road needs on an as available basis.

ADOPTED JUNE 5, 1989 [27(2) AUG 1999]

27(3) Paratransit Service

That definitions, guidelines and policies be established for the London Paratransit Service as set out in Appendix 27(3A).

ADOPTED APRIL 15, 1991; [27(3) NOV 1991]

27(4) Residential Front Yard and Boulevard Parking

That a policy be established as set out in Appendix 27(4A) to provide for residential front yard and boulevard parking and to provide for the following transitional provisions from the existing boulevard parking agreements to new ones where a "grandfathering" option is chosen by the property owners:

(a) property owners with residential boulevard parking agreements be required to pay any outstanding rental charges for existing residential boulevard parking up to December 31, 1995 on the understanding that rental charges remitted to the City by that date will make those owners eligible for the "grandfathering" of existing residential boulevard parking agreements; and

(b) eligible property owners with existing residential boulevard parking agreements wishing to "grandfather" such parking arrangements in order to allow them to be continued, be required to enter into a revised Standard Form Boulevard Parking Agreement on the understanding that the by-law authorizing the execution of these revised agreements will be registered by the City Clerk on the title of the abutting property at the expense of the owner involved as regards the payment of the $50.00 registration fee.

ADOPTED OCTOBER 2, 1995 [27(4) AUG 1999]

27(5) Non-Enforcement of Parking Regulations

That a policy be established directing staff not to enforce parking meters, municipal parking lots and time-limited parking zones on Easter Monday and on those days when City Hall is closed in lieu of a statutory holiday.

ADOPTED APRIL 23, 1996 [27(5) AUG 1999]

27(6) Free Downtown Parking During Christmas Season

That a policy be established to provide free parking each year at on-street parking meters and municipal parking lots in the Downtown, Centretown and Richmond Row areas on Saturdays only, starting on the weekend of the Santa Claus Parade and continuing through to the end of December.

ADOPTED APRIL 23, 1996 []

27(7) Traffic Calming Policy

That a policy be established that prohibits the installation of Traffic Calming Devices until approved by Council through a warranted Traffic Calming study as set out in Appendices 27(7A) and 27(7B), and that recommended devices be implemented in accordance with the Local Improvement Policy.

ADOPTED AUGUST 4, 1998 [27(7) OCT 2004]

27(1A) Appendix to Policy on Traffic By-law Amendments

Item	Existing Policy, Criteria and/or Warrant	E.T.C. Approval Required
New Traffic Signals	M.T.O. and Council approved warrant	Yes
Pedestrian Crossover Systems	Council approved warrant	No
All-way Stops (new)	Council approved warrant	No
Speed Limits	85th percentile criteria	No
Truck Routes	Council adopted policy	No
One-way Designations	UTCDM, M.T.O.	Yes
Turn Prohibitions	UTCDM, M.T.O.	No
Stop/Yield Controls	UTCDM, M.T.O.	No
School Bus Loading Zone	UTCDM, M.T.O.	No
On-street Parking Regulations	See Appendix "B" Below	No

UTCDM = Uniform Traffic Control Devices Manual

* where no objections are received.

APPENDIX "B"

CRITERIA RELATING TO ON-STREET PARKING REGULATIONS

1. NO STOPPING

No stopping zones will be utilized where it has been determined that the stopping of vehicles on roadways is interfering with the safe and efficient movement of traffic.

2. NO PARKING

No Parking zones will be utilized to provide safe and efficient traffic movement and/or adequate site lines at intersections. The "No Parking" provisions in the By-law do permit short term stopping for the purposes of loading. The City's policies in the past have utilized 20 m No Parking zones for end zone clearance and parking has normally been banned on one side of streets with a width of less than 7.3 m.

3. LIMITED PARKING\METERED

Limited Parking zones ranging from 15 min. to 4 hrs. in duration will be utilized where studies have indicated a need to regulate on-street parking to ensure maximum utilization and turn-over. Limited Parking zones are normally initiated through inquiries or complaints regarding all day parking and the time durations are established through parking reviews to identify the required interval of parking frequency.

4. LOADING ZONES

Loading Zone designations will be instituted where a review of loading practices has identified the need for such designations. Studies to determine Loading Zone requirements normally include liaison with the abutting businesses to establish business loading requirements.

5. TAXI ZONES

Taxi Zones will be established pursuant to requests and subsequent to studies which identify the need for the storage of taxis to assure the proper performance of their service. The zones are normally located in curb parking areas, where parking is already permitted and hence the zone in itself does not create an obstruction to the movement of traffic.

6. HOTEL OR THEATRE ZONES

Hotel or Theatre Zones are installed adjacent to the entrances to public facilities (mainly hotels and theatres) where it is considered essential that parked vehicles not obstruct emergency evacuation of buildings etc. Zone lengths are kept to a minimum but normally will permit occupancy by no less than two vehicles.

7. BOOKMOBILE STOPS

Bookmobile Stops are instituted upon request at locations where the designation will best serve the mobile bookmobiles operated through the Library. The zones are normally not permitted on streets where it is determined that the placement of the Bookmobile will obstruct the safe and effective movement of the traffic.

27(3A) Appendix to Paratransit Service Policy

Definitions

Cancellation Each scheduled one-way trip for a registered passenger, which was later cancelled by the passenger or the service at least ½ hour prior to the scheduled pick-up.

No-show Each scheduled one-way trip for which the registered passenger did not show when the vehicle arrived at the scheduled pick-up time or the customer cancelled when the driver arrived and which trip had not been cancelled by the customer at least ½ hour before the scheduled pick-up time.

Guidelines

No-show That the maximum number of no-shows be held to within 1% of the actual number of trips provided.

Cancellation Due to the nature of the service being provided and the reasons for cancellations, no guideline has been established.

Policies

No-show:

(a) That, whenever feasible, the Paratransit van driver leave a "notice of no-show" form at the scheduled pick-up location for any customer who is to be recorded as a "no-show."

(b) That any customer with at least three recorded "no-shows" within any two month period or with a consistent pattern of "no-shows" over a longer period of time be sent a letter advising that continued "no-shows" are considered to be an abuse of the use of the Paratransit service and that the customer's record must improve.

(c) That, should the customer's record of abuse not improve after the warning letter referred to in part (b) above, the London Paratransit Service Advisory Committee review the situation and give consideration to the suspension of the customer's registration.

Subscription Service:

(a) shall be limited to work, post-secondary school and certain medical appointments;

(b) may be put on "hold" for a period of up to 6 months;

(d) any request resulting in a subscription booking being held for a period longer than 6 months will be reviewed by the Paratransit Service Advisory Committee;

(e) (i) the contractor may provide another customer with a temporary subscription booking for any time period which is "on hold" after making it clear to the customer that the service is being provided on a temporary basis and will have to be given up when the original customer returns to the service; in all cases, no temporary subscription will be given for at least two weeks from the time the permanent subscription was placed "on hold";

(ii) should the permanent subscription become available, the customer with the temporary subscription booking for that time period shall have the opportunity to receive the permanent booking;

(f) any subscription trip which the customer has advised the contractor at least 7 days in advance will not be required, will not be considered as a cancellation;

(g) abuse of the subscription service, including repeated cancellations made more than 7 days in advance, will be reviewed by the London Paratransit Service Advisory Committee;

(h) neither the pick-up location nor the destination of a subscription service booking may be altered unless it is to be a permanent change and the change in service can be accommodated.

Return Bookings:

Return bookings for medical and other professional trips such as lawyers, social workers, etc. may be made by calling the dispatcher after the completion of the appointment; however, the pick-up location must be the same as the drop-off location.

Fares:

Anyone five years of age or under accompanying a registered user of the Paratransit Service shall not be charged the regular Paratransit fee.

27(4A) Appendix to Residential Front Yard and Boulevard Parking Policy

RESIDENTIAL FRONT YARD AND BOULEVARD PARKING POLICY

1. PURPOSE OF POLICY

The purpose of this policy is to set out the Council's position with respect to the creation of Front Yard and Boulevard Parking in the City. These two types of parking are allowed by the City only on an "exception basis", and this policy includes criteria for consideration of such exceptions, standards relating to these types of parking, an approval process, a standard form agreement and an enforcement process.

Zoning or Minor Variance Exception

Front yard portions of private land may be used for parking areas according to the regulations and standards set out in the City of London Comprehensive Zoning By-law(s) or as a result of an approved minor variance.

Combined Zoning/Minor Variance and Boulevard Parking Agreement Exception

When a situation exists where the proposed parking area is partly on the owner's land and partly on the boulevard portion of the public highway, the owner must obtain both a minor variance and a boulevard parking agreement. In these cases if the Committee of Adjustment grants the minor variance it will contain a condition requiring the owner to enter into the boulevard parking agreement without a separate approval for it being required from the Council.

Boulevard Parking Agreement Exception

Boulevard portions of public highways may be used for parking areas with the approval of the Council and in accordance with terms and conditions set out in an agreement that is entered into between the City and the owner of the property adjoining the boulevard part of the highway/street.

The Corporation of the City of London generally prohibits the use of the front yard or of the boulevard for the parking of motor vehicles in single detached, semi-detached, duplex, triplex or street townhouse residential areas. Exceptions to this policy may only be granted where the applicant has obtained approval for a minor variance from the Committee of Adjustment or for use of the boulevard from Council, and where such parking complies with the policies outlined herein.

2.0 DEFINITIONS

Boulevard shall mean that portion of every road allowance within the limits of the City of London that is not used as a sidewalk, driveway, travelled roadway or shoulder.

City shall mean the geographical area of the City of London.

Corporation shall mean The Corporation of the City of London.

Council shall mean the Municipal Council of the City of London.

Driveway shall mean the physically designated area lying between the roadway and the lot line on the boulevard and between the lot line and the parking area on the lot used primarily for vehicular ingress from the roadway to the private property or for vehicular egress from the property to the roadway.

Front Yard shall mean those lands extending across the full width of a lot between the front lot line and the nearest main wall of any building or structure on the lot.

Owner shall mean any property owner or his authorized agent who applies to the Corporation for permission to park on a portion of the Corporation's boulevard.

Parking Area shall mean that area which, in whole or part uses the front yard and/or boulevard for the temporary parking of motor vehicles accessory to a permitted use.

Roadway shall mean the part of a highway that is improved, designated or ordinarily used for vehicular traffic, but does not include the shoulder, and where a highway includes two or more separate roadways, the term "Roadway" refers to any one road way separately and not to all the roadways collectively.

3.0 CRITERIA FOR CONSIDERATION OF EXCEPTIONS

3.1 Suitable Alternatives

The approval of front yard or boulevard parking will not be supported by Council where a suitable alternative exists for parking entirely on the owner's property, as described in one or more of the following situations:

(a) Tandem parking is available in a legal existing driveway when the land use is single detached dwellings;

(b) The use of rear service lanes is possible where such lanes are accessible and in use by more than one property owner;

(c) The removal of, alteration to or relocation of accessory buildings or structures, fences and landscaping will result in the accommodation of parking entirely on the owner's property; and/or

(d) The side and/or rear yard of the lot can be used for a parking area, provided such parking area does not occupy more than 25% of the total lot area.

3.2 Criteria for Approval of an Exception

The approval of a front yard or boulevard parking exception may be supported by Council where the application for an exception meets the following criteria:

(a) None of the parking area alternatives described in Section 3.1 of this policy are available;

(b) The parking area exception conforms to the general intent and purpose of the Official Plan policies and Zoning By-law regulations;

(d) The change to the Zoning By-law regulations for the residential parking area is minor;

(e) The parking area is generally in keeping with the scale and form of parking on surrounding properties and will have minimal negative impact on existing vegetation and/or municipal services.

3.3 Front Yard and Boulevard Parking Standards

The following minimum and maximum standards apply to parking area exceptions. They are intended to generally reflect the standards currently found in the Zoning By-law as they apply to parking areas for single, semi-detached, duplex, converted two (2) unit type dwellings.

No parking area will be approved which conflicts with any by-laws or regulations of the City of London.

(a) Number of Boulevard

Parking Spaces (max.) - 1 per legal dwelling unit

(b) Parking Area size (min.) - 2.7 meters (8.8 feet) wide by 5.5

meters (18.0 feet) long.

Driveway Width (max.) - maximum 6.0 m. (19.7 feet) or 40% of the

front lot line whichever is less but in no case less than 2.7 meters (8.8 feet).

(d) Parking Area

Lot Coverage (max.) - 40% of the land area between the front of

the main building and the roadway.

(e) The Parking Area length shall not be permitted parallel to the street line.

(f) The Parking Area shall not be permitted closer than 1.0 m. (3.0 feet) from an existing or future public sidewalk.

(g) In the case of corner properties, where a driveway would be constructed within 10 meters (30 feet) from the intersecting road allowance, approval for permission will be at the discretion of the General Manager of Environmental Services & City Engineer subject to the provisions of the Streets By-law (By-law S-1).

(h) All parking areas and driveways shall be provided and maintained with a stable surface, treated to prevent the raising of dust or loose particles, such as any asphalt, concrete or other hard-surfaced material.

(i) The Corporation reserves the right to require landscaping, fencing and buffering on and around the parking area and/or to require the preparation by the owner of a site plan for the parking area.

4.0 EXCEPTION POSSIBILITIES

4.1 Where the parking area is entirely in the front yard of private lands, an application to the Committee of Adjustment for a minor variance to the Zoning By-law is required. No Boulevard Parking Agreement is required for part of a driveway leading to a legal on-site parking space.

4.2 When any part of the parking area can be accommodated on private lands, this too requires an application to the Committee of Adjustment for a minor variance to the applicable Zoning By-law. In addition, as a condition of minor variance approval, the owner must enter into a Standard Form Boulevard Parking Agreement with the Corporation. The final approval of the minor variance will allow the City Clerk to prepare an agreement between the Corporation and the applicant without further approvals.

4.3 Where the parking area can only be accommodated entirely on the public boulevard, an application to the Planning Committee of the Council, through the City Clerk's Office for boulevard parking is required. The Planning and Development Department will prepare and present a report to the Planning Committee at a public meeting. The Planning Committee will then recommend approval or refusal of the application to the Council, and the Council will make the final decision.

5.0 PROCESS FOR CONSIDERATION OF EXCEPTIONS TO FRONT YARD AND BOULEVARD PARKING

The decision to grant front yard and/or boulevard parking is based on a process which includes comments from the applicant, municipal staff, neighbouring property owners, and the public. This approach recognizes the standards set out in Section 3 of this policy and the possibility of unique neighbourhood expectations about the parking area.

5.1 The application fees for both a minor variance and a boulevard parking agreement are set by By-law CP-6, as amended from time to time. (The 1995 fee for each process is $525) All application fees are non-refundable. Where the exception involves a boulevard parking agreement, the applicant must also provide the City Clerk with a cheque in the amount of $50.00 made payable to the Minister of Finance of Ontario to cover the costs for the registration of the agreement on title through a by-law instrument.

5.2 Any application for front yard and boulevard parking must include a plan prepared to scale showing the location of the buildings, trees, public utilities, landscaping, adjoining properties and building locations where possible and the dimensions of the proposed parking area. This plan must be suitable for inclusion in the Standard Form Boulevard Parking Agreement to be entered into between the owner and the Corporation. It is strongly recommended that the plan be based on a survey drawing of the property because it is the responsibility of the owner to ensure that there are no encroachments onto adjacent properties.

5.3 Applications that are going to the Committee of Adjustment because they require a minor variance will be circulated by the Secretary-Treasurer of the said Committee in accordance with the Regulations under the Planning Act (to various Civic Departments, outside agencies and to all property owners within 60 meters (200 feet) of the applicant's property). Applications that are going to a public participation meeting of the Planning Committee because a boulevard parking agreement is required will also be circulated to all property owners within 60 meters (200 feet) of the applicant's property and to the Environmental Services Department (i.e. General Manager of Environmental Services & City Engineer) and the Planning and Development Department.

5.4 A public meeting of either the Committee of Adjustment or of the Planning Committee is normally held within 30 days of the application being received, at which the applicant and any interested surrounding property owners would be invited to comment on the appropriateness and desirability of the front yard or boulevard parking application.

5.5 For minor variance exceptions to front yard parking, the decision of the Committee of Adjustment may be appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board. For boulevard parking exception applications, the decision of Council is final and binding.

6.0 BOULEVARD PARKING AGREEMENT

6.1 The conditions of agreement will be those contained in the Standard Form Boulevard Parking Agreement adopted by City Council as amended from time to time.

6.2 When the Boulevard Parking Agreement has been fully executed by the applicant, the City Clerk will prepare and submit to the Council a standard form executory by-law to authorize the execution of the Boulevard Parking Agreement by the Corporation. Upon enactment of the by-law by the Council, the Corporation will sign the Agreement after which, and subject to

(1) the receipt from the applicant by the City Clerk of the registration fee referred to in section 5.1 of this Policy; and

(2) written advice from the General Manager of Planning and Development (i.e. Site Plan Administrator) that it is appropriate to proceed

the City Clerk will register the Boulevard Parking By-law and Agreement on the title of the property. The City Clerk will provide the applicant with a copy of the registered by-law/agreement showing all the registration particulars.

6.3 Boulevard Parking Agreements will be without a term certain and will run with the land upon which they are registered provided the parties to the agreement are in accord, and all of the conditions of Corporation as set out in the agreement have been and are being complied with to the satisfaction of the General Manager of Environmental Services & City Engineer.

7.0 CONSTRUCTION OF THE PARKING AREA

7.1 The removal of a City curb is to be done by City Forces at the owner's expense after a curb cut permit is obtained from the General Manager of Environmental Services & City Engineer. Paving, removal of trees and relocation of utilities, or any other construction work is to be arranged by the owner through the affected City Department, utility or agency, at the owner's expense, on the understanding that the approval of the General Manager of Environmental Services & City Engineer must be obtained before commencement of any construction work that is required.

7.2 In the event that trees or utilities must be removed or relocated, written approval must be obtained by the owner from the appropriate authority before the application will be processed.

8.0 FRONT YARD AND BOULEVARD PARKING ENFORCEMENT

8.1 Parking on the boulevard or in the front yard shall not begin:

(1) in the case of parking under a boulevard parking agreement, until the City Clerk has completed registration of the by-law/boulevard parking agreement instrument in the Registry Office, or

(2) in the case of parking under a minor variance, until the decision of the Committee of Adjustment (or of the Ontario Municipal Board where there is an appeal) is final.

8.2 Violations of any of the provisions in the Zoning By-law, the Traffic By-law or the Streets By-law with respect to front yard and boulevard parking shall be enforced at the discretion of the municipal enforcement agencies.

8.3 In situations where a decision is reached not to approve front yard or boulevard parking, the General Manager of Environmental Services & City Engineer may close illegal accesses with proper curbing and restore the appearance of the area as a proper boulevard at the expense of the offending property owner.

8.4 Where no boulevard parking agreement has been finalized on the basis outlined in paragraph 6.2 of this policy, the Corporation reserves the right to erect, temporarily, any obstacles necessary to prevent the use of the boulevard for parking, and, at the same time, the City Clerk may recommend to the Planning Committee that the original approval for such owner's agreement to park on the boulevard be rescinded.

27(7A) Appendix to Traffic Calming Policy - Criteria for Initiating a Traffic Calming Study

Criteria for Initiating a Traffic Calming Study

a) The study area, as determined by the City Engineer, meets at least two of the four warrants set out in Appendix 27(7B);

b) More than 25% of traffic has a measured speed greater than the posted speed limit, or, more than 40% of the measured traffic volume is through traffic and total traffic is at least 75% of the design volume for the road classification;

c) A study area support rate of 60% is measured by a mail back survey with a minimum 40% response rate;

d) Council approves the initiation of the Traffic Calming Study as a Class Environmental Assessment Study under the Environmental Assessment Act.

27(7B) Appendix to Traffic Calming Policy - Screening Criteria for Candidate Traffic Calming Neighbourhoods

Screening Criteria for Candidate Traffic Calming Neighbourhoods

There are four warrants to be considered:

a) Potential for Infiltration Concerns

If there are direct connections to a major street network at both ends of the study area, further study of this component is warranted. Three additional considerations are:

· Is the distance to parallel major streets greater than one kilometre?

· Does the street provide obvious access to community features or major traffic generators outside the study area?

· Does the street provide an obvious by-pass to an arterial/arterial or arterial/highway intersection?

If any of these three additional conditions are true the warrant passes. If none of these three conditions are true, the warrant fails.

b) Potential for High Levels of Local Traffic

Two conditions are considered in determining the potential for high levels of local traffic:

· Are there 100 or more residential units abutting/fronting or three or more local roads intersecting the street?

· Are there other land uses in/near the study area that could generate significant vehicle volumes?

If either of these two conditions is true the warrant passes. If neither of the conditions is true, the warrant fails.

c) Potential for High Speeds

Two conditions are considered in determining the potential for high speeds:

· Is the street relatively straight?

· Is the paved surface on the street wider than 9.0 metres?

If either of these conditions is true, the warrant passes. If both of these conditions are false, the warrant fails.

d) Risk of Unacceptable Levels of Pedestrian-Vehicle Conflicts

If less than 75% of the length of roads in the study area has sidewalks on at least one side, further study of this component is warranted, otherwise the warrant fails.

If further study is warranted, three additional conditions are considered:

· Are there schools, parks, or seniors' residences abutting or adjacent to the study area?

· Are there 100 or more residential units abutting/fronting onto the street?

· Are there other land uses in/near the study area that could generate significant pedestrian volumes?

If any of the three additional conditions is true, the warrant passes. If none of the three additional conditions are true, the warrant fails.