October 27, 1998

To:East York Community Council

From:Andrew Koropeski, Director, Transportation Services District 1

Subject:Traffic Concerns on Cadorna Avenue

Purpose:

To report to the November 12, 1998, meeting of the East York Community Council regarding traffic concerns on Cadorna Avenue at O'Connor Drive.

Financial Implications:

There are no financial implications.

Recommendations:

"It is recommended that:

(1)the Clerks Department be requested to conduct a formal poll of the residents of Cadorna Avenue, between O'Connor Drive and Plains Road, with respect to the implementation of a "No Left Turn, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, except public holidays" restriction for westbound traffic on O'Connor Drive at Cadorna Avenue, and;

(2)the appropriate City Officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto."

Background:

In February 1997, the Development Services Department of the former Borough of East York reported on a series of traffic concerns in the vicinity of O'Connor Drive and Donlands Avenue.

A part of this investigation included studies on traffic infiltration by westbound traffic on O'Connor Drive approaching Donlands Avenue. Specifically, left turn movements from westbound O'Connor Drive to Donlands Avenue, Lesmount Avenue and Cadorna Avenue were studied.

These studies resulted in a determination by staff that Lesmount Avenue was being used by westbound motorists on O'Connor Drive as a cut-through route to avoid vehicular queues at Donlands Avenue. In a report to former East York Council dated February 18, 1997, staff recommended a formal poll be conducted of the residents of Lesmount Avenue, to ascertain support for the implementation of a "No Left Turn, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, except public holidays" restriction on westbound O'Connor Drive at Lesmount Avenue in an effort to reduce traffic infiltration. The results of the poll indicated a majority of support for the restriction and, on May 20, 1997, East York Council requested the former Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto implement the restriction. The restriction was subsequently approved by Metro Council and was installed on December 22, 1997.

Staff noted in the February 18, 1997, report that Lesmount Avenue was being used to bypass the queue of vehicles at Donlands Avenue due to its close proximity to Donlands Avenue. Cadorna Avenue was not expected to be used as a bypass if a left turn prohibition was implemented on Lesmount Avenue since westbound queues on O'Connor Drive seldom extend to Lesmount Avenue.

In January 1998, Councillor Prue received a telephone call from a local resident requesting a "No Left Turn" restriction on O'Connor Drive at Cadorna Avenue. Subsequently, on February 3, 1998, a request was received by Councillor Prue to review the impacts resulting from the introduction of the westbound left-turn prohibition at O'Connor Drive and Lesmount Avenue. Concurrently, staff received a request received from Councillor Ootes on January 23, 1998, regarding traffic safety issues raised by Mr. Dave Morgan, 349 O'Connor Drive.

On May 15, 1998, staff from the East Traffic Region and East York District responded to the East York Councillors regarding both of these issues. With respect to the impacts of the westbound left-turn prohibition at O'Connor Drive and Lesmount Avenue, studies revealed an increase in left-turn volumes at O'Connor Drive and Cadorna Avenue, a significant number of motorists disobeying the westbound left-turn prohibition at O'Connor Drive and Lesmount Avenue, and virtually no change in the westbound left-turn volumes on O'Connor Drive at Donlands Avenue. The actual westbound left turning volumes from O'Connor Drive, both before and after the implementation of the westbound left-turn prohibition at O'Connor Drive and Lesmount Avenue, are illustrated below:

Comments:

1. O'Connor Drive at Cadorna Avenue

Although the volume of westbound traffic on O'Connor Drive turning left onto Cadorna Avenue during the p.m. peak period has increased since the implementation of the "No Left Turn, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, except public holidays" restriction on westbound O'Connor Drive at Lesmount Avenue, the traffic volumes on Cadorna Avenue remain consistent with volumes expected for a local urban street. However, staff are willing to consider a "No Left Turn, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, except public holidays" restriction at Cadorna Avenue if the residents of the street are in support of such a measure.

In a letter to Councillor Prue dated October 6, 1998, from Mrs. Blakely, she advised the issue of left-turning vehicles onto Cadorna Avenue occurs at all times of the day, therefore a potential turn prohibition should be extended beyond the hours of 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Staff do not concur with her request since the restriction is intended to limit left turns when they are most prevalent, namely during the p.m. peak period between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Local traffic would still require access at other times of the day.

The East Traffic Region has advised that if the westbound left turns from O'Connor Drive at Lesmount Avenue and at Cadorna Avenue were transferred to Donlands Avenue, there would be an additional average delay of about three seconds per vehicle to westbound left-turning vehicles during the p.m. peak hour. Although the average delay would increase, there is sufficient reserve capacity to accommodate these vehicles.

2. O'Connor Drive at St. Hubert Avenue

A petition was received by residents in July 1997 concerned about a perceived traffic infiltration concern, and included a request for a "No Left Turn" restriction from O'Connor Drive. As with Cadorna Avenue, a turn prohibition onto St. Hubert Avenue is technically not necessary. Westbound left turn volumes onto St. Hubert Avenue during the p.m. peak period were minimal (7 vehicles) after the turn prohibition was installed at Lesmount Avenue. If a "No Left Turn, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, except public holidays" restriction is implemented on O'Connor Drive at Cadorna Avenue, residents of St. Hubert Avenue may renew their request for a turn prohibition at their street to correspond with prohibitions further west. We do not expect motorists to use St. Hubert Avenue because of the close proximity of St. Hubert Avenue to Don Mills Road of approximately 45.7 meters (150 feet) and because the queues of eastbound vehicles turning left onto Don Mills Road from O'Connor Drive during the p.m. peak period would deter motorists from performing this left turn manoeuvre.

Although the general reason for these residents to request turn prohibitions on their streets is to reduce a perceived traffic infiltration issue, it should be noted that these prohibitions will also eliminate access by local traffic. Local traffic would therefore have to utilize Greenwood Avenue (a collector street) and Donlands Avenue (an arterial street), but would subsequently have to proceed on Plains Road (a local street) to access their properties on St. Hubert Avenue, Cadorna Avenue and Lesmount Avenue. Therefore, those residents concerned about motorists cutting through their neighbourhood subsequently become the cause of that same issue on adjacent streets.

Conclusion:

Following the installation of a "No Left Turn, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, except public holidays" restriction for westbound traffic on O'Connor Drive at Lesmount Avenue, a concern was received by Councillor Prue regarding an increase in westbound left-turning volumes during the p.m. peak period onto Cadorna Avenue. A follow-up study conducted by Works and Emergency Services staff confirmed this.

Although the traffic volumes on Cadorna are still considered typical for a local urban street, staff are prepared to recommend the implementation of a "No Left Turn, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, except public holidays" restriction on westbound O'Connor Drive at Cadorna Avenue if the residents of Cadorna Avenue support this measure. Therefore, it is recommended that the Clerks Department conduct a formal poll of the residents of Cadorna Avenue, between O'Connor Drive and Plains Road, to ascertain support for this restriction.

It should also be noted that, if a "No Left Turn, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, except public holidays" is implemented at Cadorna Avenue, residents of St. Hubert Avenue to the east may renew their request for a similar restriction. Since St. Hubert Avenue is approximately 45.7 metres (150 feet) west of Don Mills Road, the close proximity of the intersections coupled with the queues of eastbound vehicles turning left onto Don Mills Road from O'Connor Drive during the p.m. peak period is expected to deter motorists from performing this left-turn manoeuvre.

Contact Name and Telephone Number:

Bryan Muir, Transportation Technologist

778-2227

bmuir@borough.eastyork.on.ca

Director

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