January 23, 1998

To: Chairman and Members of the Scarborough Community Council

From: Gary Welsh, P.Eng., Director, Road & Traffic Services, Works & Environment Department

Subject: Request for 40 kilometre per hour Speed Limit on Brimorton Drive near Churchill Heights Public School, Ward 16

Purpose:

To address the concerns regarding speeding that were identified in a petition by 38 residents on Brimorton Drive in the vicinity of Churchill Heights Public School.

Funding Sources:

The $500 (approximate) funds associated with the installation of oversized School Area signs with Reduce Speed tabs are contained in the Road & Traffic Services 1998 Budget Account No. 20000-70200-72240.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1) the speed limit on Brimorton Drive remain at 50 kilometre per hour.

(2) oversized School Area signs with Reduce Speed tabs be installed on Brimorton Drive in advance of Churchill Heights Public School; and

(3) the Toronto Police, 42 Division provide a period of concentrated enforcement of the 50 kilometre per hour speed limit on Brimorton Drive, specifically between Gander Drive and Painted Post Drive.

Background:

A 38 signature petition was presented to the former Scarborough, Works and Environment Committee meeting on September 22, 1997, requesting a 40 kilometre per hour speed limit be installed in the vicinity of Churchill Heights Public School on Brimorton Drive. This Committee directed that this matter be referred to staff for a report.

Discussion:

Brimorton Drive is a major collector road and located between Orton Park Road and Brimley Road. The road has a 12.7 metre pavement width and provides access to major north-south arterial roads.

The section of Brimorton Drive referred to in the petition is located between Gander Drive and Painted Post Drive. Within this section is Churchill Heights Public School.

Appropriate school area signs are posted on Brimorton Drive warning motorists that this is a school area. A pedestrian crossover is located at the south end of the school at Gaitwin Place.

40 Kilometre Per Hour Speed Limit Warrant:

The justification for the introduction of a 40 kilometre per hour speed limit on a roadway in the former City of Scarborough is based on a technical warrant established by the Road & Traffic Services, adopted by Scarborough Council. Application of the required data to this warrant indicates that Brimorton Drive does not meet the necessary requirements for a 40 kilometre per hour speed limit on this roadway.

Speed Study:

An automatic 24-hour speed study conducted on Tuesday, October 21, 1997 on Brimorton Drive is summarized as follows:

The 85th percentile is the speed at or below which the majority of motorists feel comfortable travelling on a given section of roadway, taking into consideration traffic volumes and surrounding conditions. The 50th percentile divides the speed at which half the motorists are travelling above and below.

We must emphasize that on roads where the speed limit is lowered well below the 85th percentile speed, conflicts increase between faster and slower motorists, the gaps in traffic through which crossings could be made safely are reduced and the difficulty for pedestrians to judge the speed of approaching vehicles is increased. Consequently, the potential for collisions increases.

Furthermore, the introduction of unwarranted speed limits not only undermines effective traffic management but leads to disrespect of these as well as other traffic control devices as motorists doubt the legitimacy of the restriction. This ultimately results in making the road network less safe for all motorists and pedestrians.

Our speed studies also clearly reveal that the majority of motorists travelling on Brimorton Drive would find a 40 kilometre per hour speed limit unreasonably low, and we would be creating a speed trap which would punish prudent motorists who are travelling at reasonable speeds. As such, the majority of motorists travelling on Brimorton Drive have clearly indicated, by their speeds, that they want the 50 km/h speed limit to remain on this section of road. In addition, if the speed limit were to be lowered in this section of Brimorton Drive, motorists would likely find it frustrating to have different speed limits along a major collector roadway.

As an example, Scarborough Council adopted a 40 kilometre per hour speed limit on a portion of McNicoll Avenue in February 1997. McNicoll Avenue had a similar 50th percentile as Brimorton Drive, prior to the speed limit reduction, of 58 kilometre per hour. Studies conducted after the installation of this 40 kilometre per hour speed limit revealed that the 50th percentile speed did not change, despite the reduction in the speed limit. Eventually, due to numerous complaints from motorists, Scarborough Council changed the speed limit back to 50 kilometre per hour in October 1997.

Nonetheless, we do recommend that the police provide a period of concentrated enforcement of the existing 50 kilometre per hour speed limit. We believe police enforcement is the most effective means available to control motorists speeds.

Collision History:

A review of the collision history on this portion of Brimorton Drive reveals three reported collisions over the past three years, January 1, 1994 to December 31, 1996 between, but not including, Gander Drive and Painted Post Drive. All three collisions occurred in 1994. One of these collisions was the result of speeding.

Conclusions:

Considering the speed at which motorists are comfortable travelling on this road and the failure to satisfy the Speed Limit Warrant, a 40 kilometre per hour speed limit is not recommended on this section of Brimorton Drive. What has been installed on other arterial roadways, and would also be considered appropriate on Brimorton Drive near Churchill Heights Public School would be the installation of oversize School Area Signs with Reduce Speed tabs. These signs will replace the existing standard size School Area signs. Also, to supplement these signs new Crossing Ahead signs and School Safety Patrol signs will be installed in advance of the school. The Toronto Police should be requested to provide enforcement of the 50 kilometre per hour speed limit in this area.

Contact Name:

Gary H. Welsh, P.Eng.,

Director, Road and Traffic Services, Works & Environment,

Telephone: 396-5061,

Fax: 396-5681,

E-mail: welsh@city.scarborough.on.ca

Gary Welsh, P.Eng.,

Director, Road & Traffic Services, Works & Environment

Michael A. Price, P.Eng., FICE,

Commissioner, Works & Environment

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