September 16, 1998

To:Etobicoke Community Council

From:D. Gulli, Director, Transportation and Engineering Planning

Subject:Pedestrian Crossover Investigation:

The East Mall, South of Yarn Road

(Markland-Centennial)

Purpose:

To evaluate a request for the installation of a pedestrian crossover on The East Mall, south of Yarn Road, in front of Cloverdale Mall.

Funding Sources:

The funds associated with the installation of pedestrian crossovers are contained in the Transportation Services Division's Operating Budget.

Recommendation:

It is recommended that:

(1)a pedestrian crossover not be erected on The East Mall, south of Yarn Road, in front of Cloverdale Mall.

Background:

The Transportation and Engineering Planning Division has received a request from Councillor Irene Jones (Lakeshore-Queensway) to determine the feasibility of installing a pedestrian crossover on The East Mall, south of Yarn Road, in front of Cloverdale Mall. This request was in response to correspondence (Attachment No. 1) received from Mr. Brian Hayworth, 28 Glenellen Drive E., Toronto, M8Y 2G6, proposing a pedestrian crossover at this location. A map of the area is Attachment No. 2.

Comments:

The East Mall, at the subject location, is a four lane secondary arterial roadway having a posted limited of 40 km/h. The average annual daily traffic is approximately 15,100 vehicles. The Toronto Transit Commission has bus stops, including bus bays, located on both sides of The East Mall, south of YarnRoad. The west side bus stop coincides with the main pedestrian access into Cloverdale Mall. The east side bus stop is directly opposite the west side stop.

Prior to 1992, numerous investigations/studies were conducted at this location to address the issue of pedestrian safety and two reports (Attachments No. 3 and No. 4) were presented to the former City of Etobicoke Works and Environment Committee in 1988 and 1993. It was concluded in both reports that although the volume of pedestrians crossing The East Mall in front of Cloverdale Mall is relatively high, the installation of a pedestrian crossover could not be recommended due to the proximity of the traffic control signals located at the intersection of TheEast Mall and East Mall Crescent. This intersection is approximately 110 metres south of the crossing area, however, a pedestrian crossover cannot be located less than 215 metres from traffic control signals or another pedestrian crossover. Installing a pedestrian crossover at a point greater than 215 metres north of East Mall Crescent would not achieve the desired results since pedestrians would elect to cross The East Mall at the aforementioned bus stops.

In the fall of 1992, a pedestrian refuge island was constructed on The East Mall, south of YarnRoad which significantly improved the safety of pedestrians crossing in this area. Recent observation studies during peak traffic periods revealed no potential vehicle and pedestrian conflicts.

A collision analysis for the last five years has revealed one pedestrian related accident in this area. It occurred on December 12, 1996, at 3.48 p.m. when a sixty-five year old woman, crossing TheEast Mall 15 metres south of Yarn Road, was struck by a vehicle in the northbound passing lane. This pedestrian was running eastbound to catch the northbound bus. Weather and road surface conditions were factors in this collision as it was raining at the time of the accident. No charges were laid.

Conclusions:

The distance between the traffic control signals at the intersection of The East Mall and East Mall Crescent and the focal point for pedestrians crossing south of Yarn Road, directly in front of the main pedestrian access to Cloverdale Mall, is short of the minimum requirements for the installation of a pedestrian crossover. The installation of a pedestrian crossover on this section of The East Mall would have adverse traffic/pedestrian conflicts in that there would be a high probability of rear end type collisions and non-compliance of this traffic control device by motorists, thus decreasing driver and pedestrian safety on this section of The East Mall.

The pedestrian related accident that did occur at this location was the result of pedestrian error and weather and road surface conditions.

The existing refuge island provides adequate protection for pedestrians attempting to cross one direction of traffic at a time therefore no additional traffic control changes are recommended.

Contact Name:

Mark Hargot, Traffic Co-ordinator, Transportation and Engineering Planning.

(416)394-8453; Fax: (416)394-8942.

D. Gulli

Director, Transportation and Engineering Planning

ccStreet File "The East Mall"