Public Notice
All-day on-street parking in downtown Bolton - Region of Peel
On June 27, Peel Regional Council approved an all-day on-street parking pilot project in downtown Bolton. All day parking will be allowed on Queen Street from King Street to Mill Street.
When
- All-day on-street parking will begin July 22, 2019. Starting the pilot project in the summer months takes advantage of lower summer traffic levels from school closures and vacations.
- The pilot project will end July 31, 2020. At the midway point and upon conclusion of the project collected information and recommendations will be provided to council.
Project update
Since it began in July 2019, downtown Bolton has seen some traffic diverted away from the core.
Areas for continued improvement on the pilot project include:
- Additional parking signage
- New northbound and southbound exclusive left turn lanes
- Pavement marking enhancements
- Flexible hazard markers and planters on the roadway as more traffic calming measures
- Full signalization of the intersection of Queen Street at Sterne Street
Why the pilot
Both safety and economic viability are concerns for downtown Bolton. This pilot project will provide accurate data about whether all-day on-street street parking improves safety, increases the number of people actively using the downtown as well as how it impacts traffic. As well, diverting through-traffic to the Emil Kolb Parkway will benefit commuters, local residents and make better use of the roadway.
What will be monitored
The pilot project will monitor before and after data including:
- Traffic volumes in the downtown and on the Emil Kolb Parkway
- Traffic speed
- Number of cars lined up at the lights in the downtown
- Number of collisions and their cause
- Number of pedestrians in the downtown
- Emergency response times
Peel staff will monitor the operation and safety of the pilot project as it unfolds and may change signal timings, signage, pavement markings and lane configurations, as needed.
How will this impact you
- There will be an initial increase in queuing lengths and delay for both directions of traffic in the a.m. and p.m. peak periods.
- It is anticipated that due to the increase in delay, traffic traveling through the downtown core may divert to Coleraine Drive/Emil Kolb Parkway or Albion-Vaughan Road and onto surrounding residential streets.
- It is suggested that drivers looking to avoid possible delays traveling through downtown Bolton use Coleraine Drive and the Emil Kolb Parkway.
- Coleraine Drive and the Emil Kolb Parkway can be accessed among other routes via Mayfield Road, Parr Boulevard and the George Bolton Parkway.
- The three-hour maximum and 2:00 a.m.– 6:00 a.m. parking restrictions on all Region of Peel roads remains in effect.
- Other impacts may include a reduction in vehicle speeds, increased street-level activity, increased parking access to downtown businesses and the movement towards a safer and more comfortable area for all users, including pedestrians, cyclists, motorists and people of all ages and capabilities.
What is the long term vision for downtown Bolton
The Bolton Transportation Master Plan guides the development of future transportation infrastructure in Bolton, as well as a vision and a set of recommendations specific to downtown Bolton, developed in consultation with the area's residents and businesses.
The ultimate solution is to repurpose the existing intersection and lanes to accommodate two vehicle travel lanes and cycling lanes in both the northbound and southbound directions, curb bump-outs to reduce pedestrian crossing distances, and all-day on-street parking on the east side of Queen Street.
Contact
If you would like more information about the pilot project, please contact:
Joe Avsec
Manager, Traffic and Sustainable Transportation
Transportation Division
Region of Peel
905-791-7800, ext. 7910