The City of Toronto announced they will re-open registration for the CurbTO program -- designated temporary parking pick-up zones to help support business on main streets with limited parking while Toronto is in lockdown.
The CurbTO program began in April as a way to help small businesses stay afloat. Throughout the summer, Temporary Parking Pick-Up Zones were created by repurposing parking locations along main streets for short-term parking (no more than 10 minutes). In the city's most recent press release they explain that these temporary spots were to help potential customers and delivery agents expedite food, medicine and other merchandise pick-ups by making parking spots immediately available near main street businesses offering curbside pick-up and delivery.
The CurbTO program as well as the CafeTO program reduced the strictness of parking enforcement throughout the peak of the programs' implementation. Just days after the Toronto police announced they would resume towing of vehicles that were illegally parked during rush hour, the City of Toronto announced their re-opening of registration for CurbTO.
Businesses around the city can apply here for "temporary priority Parking Pick-Up Zone" spots which will be designated with blue signs that indicate parking is permitted for a duration of 10 minutes. "Blue signs are put in place to identify the temporary parking locations and City staff are working with Toronto Police Service Parking Enforcement to plan enforcement and help ensure that the designated parking locations are used appropriately" a Tweet on the city's social media account explains.
The city heads into the height of winter in the Grey – Lockdown category and it is unclear how some of the city's small businesses will survive this. The CurbTO program was successful in the summer and the city hopes to lend the same helping hand to beloved local businesses, including the already strugglings restaurants and bars this winter.
