Crowded buses and subways already make rush hour a challenge, and
then there are the jam-packed streets and parking lots that surround
many subway and GO train stations.
Che Ho of
Toronto writes, “Can the TTC do something about vehicles blocking
Transway Crescent at the entrance of Kennedy subway station? Almost
every day I have to use the wrong lane to leave the station’s
parking lot, and then make a right turn from the left turn lane. On
occasion, cars get trapped in the parking lot because Transway
Crescent is blocked.”
The problems
outside the entrance to Kennedy station are worst around rush hour,
when taxis overflow a small cab stand and motorists park on the road
instead of using a nearby Kiss and Ride pick-up area.
Three agencies
of the city of Toronto are involved here -- the TTC, parking
enforcement and the traffic department. Spokesman Mike DeToma of the
TTC reports that there have been congestion problems at Kennedy
Station during peak periods for many years. He tells In Transit,
“This is one of the busier stations in the system and it was not
built to the design standards that we have in place today.” He adds
that “illegal stopping and turning manoeuvres” on the roads around
the station can even delay buses, but not significantly.
Since the roads
are not the responsibility of the TTC, the next people to turn to
are parking control officers. Area supervisor Andrea Seivwright of
the Parking Enforcement division of the Toronto Police Service told
In Transit that if motorists are waiting on a street marked No
Stopping, officers will give verbal warnings, asking them to move
on. If the driver refuses, or there is no one in the car, a ticket
is issued.
Ms. Seivwright
warns me that drivers may initially comply with a request to leave,
but simply return once the parking enforcement officer has moved on
to another area. To me, that sounds like swatting at flies -- they
just come back.
According to
patrol supervisor Rob Mackay, an officer visited Thursday afternoon
from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., and warned 15 drivers to move, which they
did. Apparently the officer has visited this area before, and
reports that it was not as congested as usual. I put in a request
for repeated visits by officers, although it appears as if a
concerted effort may be required in September, when students and
commuters return from holiday. Anyone can register a “continuous
complaint” by calling 416-808-6600 and asking to speak to an area
supervisor.
In Transit also
spoke to André Filippetti, manager of traffic operations for the
area. He says Toronto Transportation just received a separate
complaint through the local city councillor about the same traffic
troubles at Kennedy. Mr. Filippetti suggests that the most efficient
way for citizens to get help on such congestion issues is to contact
the city directly. From my experience, staff do in fact visit the
area, and conduct a thorough study. They may determine that new
signs will help, or perhaps suggest changing the layout of the
streets.
In Transit put
Mr. Ho directly in touch with the traffic manager. Mr. Filippetti
admits that with staff limitations, such studies usually take two to
three months to turn around. I know that’s a long time, but let’s
give the system a chance to work. We will see if the combined effort
of parking officers and transportation staff can clear up Transway
Crescent.
Send e-mail to
transit@eddrass.com. Include
address and phone number.