8 December 1998
To:Chairman and Members of the North York Community Council
From:Roberto Stopnicki,
Director, Transportation Services - District 3
Subject:Traffic Calming: Norelco Drive
North York Humber
Purpose:
To provide information regarding the effectiveness of the traffic calming measures on Norelco
Drive.
Source of funds:
All costs associated with the installation of the traffic calming measures are included within
the 1998 operating budget.
Recommendations:
That the existing traffic calming measures, as approved on September 17, 1997 by Council for
the former City of North York, be maintained permanently.
Reference/Background/History:
In August of 1997, staff of the Transportation Department of the former City of North York,
was requested by the Toronto Police Services, 31 Division, to assist them in determining
alternative measures to halt the on street drag racing which was occurring on Norelco Drive.
For many years, individuals operating businesses on Norelco Drive had been dealing with late
night drag racing along the frontage of their properties. The road=s isolation has attracted
upwards of 200 spectators, and the business owners expressed concerns for the safety of their
employees.
Police staff advised that due to limited available resources and the high level of organization
by the individuals involved in the racing activities, who were using police scanners and
spotters, made it difficult for the Police to resolve situation by surveillance methods alone. In
association with other police agencies, the Toronto Police Services developed a more
aggressive program to deal with both the participants and the spectators associated with the
racing activities. This, however, required a large deployment of staff dedicated to address
these racing activities.
To ensure a more permanent impact, staff, with the approval of Council, installed five
chicanes along Norelco Drive, to break up the road into sections of approximately 200 metres.
The chicanes consisted of curb stones and planters along the side of the roadway reducing the
pavement width to 7.25 metres.
Discussion:
Staff of the Toronto Police Service, 31 Division, have indicated that the chicanes have
eliminated the drag racing activities on Norelco Drive. Area business owners generally
support the measures as they have eliminated the drag racing and do not impede their business
activities.
In view of the effect that the chicanes and the police enforcement have had on the drag racing
activities, these measures should remain on Norelco Drive.
Contact Name:
Mr. Allen Pinkerton, Supervisor of Traffic Investigations
395-7463 (telephone)
395-7482 (fascimile)
ajpinker@city.north-york.on.ca (E.-mail)
Roberto Stopnicki,
Director, Transportation Services - District 3
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