September 2, 1998
To: East York Community Council
From: Andy Koropeski
Director, District 1, Transportation Services
Subject: Traffic Concerns at Hanna Road and Millwood Road
Purpose:
To report to the September 16, 1998, meeting of the East York Community Council on the proposed installation of all-way stop control at Hanna Road and Millwood Road
Financial Implications:
The proposed work can be accommodated in the Current Operating Budget.
Recommendations:
"It is recommended that:
(1) Schedule XIX of By-law No. 92-93, entitled "To regulate traffic on roads in the Borough of East York" be amended to implement all-way stop control at the intersection of Hanna Road and Millwood Road; and
(2) the appropriate City Officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto."
Background:
The Works and Emergency Services Department received a letter from an East York resident dated September 9, 1997, requesting the installation of some form of traffic control device at the intersection of Hanna Road and Millwood Road. A second letter was received from another East York resident dated July 7, 1998, concerning safety at this intersection and requesting that the south leg of the intersection be closed and traffic redirected to adjacent streets.
Discussion:
This intersection was studied in 1996 as a result of safety concerns from East York residents. As a result of our study, this Department implemented the following measures in August 1996 to ensure the sightlines for northbound and southbound motorists were not obstructed:
Installed a "No Parking Anytime" zone on the south side of Millwood Road, from a point 40 metres west of Hanna Road to a point 40 metres east of Hanna Road, to eliminate sight obstructions for northbound motorists;
Relocated the stop bar for northbound traffic on Hanna Road to a point 2.3 metres closer to the intersection;
Requested the Toronto Police Service to conduct speed enforcement measures on Hanna Road in the vicinity of Millwood Road;
Investigated a hedge height concern on the northwest corner of the intersection. After being issued a notice of violation, the property owner complied and reduced the height of the hedge;
Requested the Parks and Recreation Department to trim the foliage obstructing a "School Crossing" sign for westbound traffic on Millwood Road.
The Commissioner of Development Services was requested to report back to the former East York Council in April 1997 on the effectiveness of the above measures and options for signage to indicate that the intersection of Hanna Road and Millwood Road is a two-way stop only.
A report to the former East York Council dated March 3, 1997, advised that an analysis of reported collisions during the period from September to December 1996 revealed one collision involving a southbound motorist failing to yield the right-of-way to an eastbound motorist. It was also reported that there are no standard signs that would be readily understandable by motorists to indicate that an intersection is not controlled by all-way stop. The former East York Council received and noted the report at its meeting of March 17, 1997.
As a result of the concern received from an East York resident on September 9, 1998, staff conducted a traffic count at the subject intersection on November 26, 1997. Furthermore, collision data was compiled for the period from January to December 1997. Difficulties in obtaining up-to-date collision data caused a delay in completing this investigation. An all-way stop warrant was compiled and is attached in Appendix A. Although the traffic volume at this intersection does not meet the minimum requirements for all-way stop control, collision records indicate that five collisions of a type susceptible to correction by all-way stop control have occurred in the previous 12-month period. Therefore, all-way stop control is warranted based upon collision experience at this intersection.
The request to close off the south leg of the intersection is not considered prudent at this time since, as the resident noted, traffic will be redirected to other adjacent streets. The volume of traffic utilizing Hanna Road is typical for a local urban residential street. Since the collision experience at Hanna Road and Millwood Road is the main concern, and since all-way stop control is warranted based on this collision experience, we expect that the implementation of all-way stop control will increase safety at this intersection. The location of the proposed all-way stop control is illustrated in Appendix ‘B’.
Conclusions:
Efforts by this Department to increase safety at this intersection, including the installation of "No Parking Anytime" zones, reducing hedge heights, and relocating the stop bar for northbound traffic on Hanna Road at Millwood Road, have not been effective in reducing collision experience. Studies conducted as a result of recent concerns raised by residents have revealed that all-way stop control is warranted based on the number of collisions that have occurred at this intersection in the 12 month period from January 1, 1997, to December 31, 1997. Therefore, it is recommended that all-way stop control be implemented at the intersection of Hanna Road and Millwood Road.
Contact Name:
Bryan Muir, Transportation Technologist
778-2227
bmuir@borough.eastyork.on.ca
ANDY KOROPESKI
Director, District 1
Transportation Services
attach.
APPENDIX ‘A’
All-way Stop Warrant - Hanna Road at Millwood Road
