(Report dated June 3, 1998, addressed to the Chairman and Members of the Scarborough Community Council, from the Director, Road and Traffic Services, Works and Environment, Scarborough District.)

Subject:Centre Left Turn Lane on Orton Park Road between Brimorton Drive and Merkley Square, Scarborough Highland Creek

Purpose:

To investigate the need to install a centre left turn lane on Orton Park Road between Brimorton Drive and Merkley Square.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

The $ 800 (approximate) funds associated with the installation of the centre left turn lane pavement markings and signs are available in the Road & Traffic Services 1998 Budget, Account No. 20000-70200-72240.

The $300 (approximate) funds associated with the installation of the parking prohibition signs is available in the Road and Traffic Services 1998 Budget, Account No. 20000-20200-72260.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)the parking regulations identified in Appendix 1 of this report be rescinded;

(2)the parking regulations identified in Appendix 2 of this report be adopted;

(3)the left turn only lane identified in Appendix 3 of this report be adopted; and

(4)the appropriate by-laws be amended accordingly.

Council Reference/Background/History:

Road and Traffic Services attended meetings with the Curran Hall Community Association Executive to discuss traffic concerns on Orton Park Road. Specifically, the confusion created by the numerous driveways on both sides of the section of Orton Park Road between Brimorton Drive and Merkley Square was identified as a concern. Road and Traffic Services developed two proposals and placed these on two separate plans. The two options were a centre left turn lane and alternating left turn lanes.

The Curran Hall Community Association circulated illustrations of the two options to the area residents through their April 1998 news letter. Residents were asked to state their preference, provide any additional comments and deposit their completed forms in a survey box at a local coffee shop where full-size displays were also available to view. The results of the surveys were printed in the May 1998 newsletter and indicated a 70/30 split between the two options; the centre left turn lane option being preferred.

Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:

Orton Park Road is a 12.8 metre wide two lane residential road. Pavement markings were installed on Orton Park Road in 1997 to discourage passing on the right and create a more orderly flow of traffic. This consisted of the installation of edge lines 2.75 metres out from the curb. On the section of road between Brimorton Drive and Merkley Square, driveways provide access to retail plazas and residential homes on the west side of the road, with driveways to G.B. Little Public School, Botany Hill Drive and residential homes on the east side of the road. A pedestrian crossover exists on Orton Park Road at Brimorton Drive.

Left Turn Only Lane

Considering the numerous driveways on the section of Orton Park Road between Brimorton Drive and Merkley Square, the installation of a centre left turn lane would assist in defining the area designated for left turns. Other benefits of this left turn lane that we anticipate are: assisting motorists exiting the plaza driveways by creating a storage area away from the traffic flow, reducing confusion in the area with regard to turning movements and possible reduction of motorists= speeds due to the narrowing of the travel lanes.

It will also be necessary to extend the current No Parking Anytime restriction on both sides of Orton Park Road from Brimorton Drive to a point 35 metres north of Merkley Square. Parking in this area would interfere with through traffic movement.

Collision History

A three-year review of the reported collision history, January 1, 1994 to December 31, 1996 reveals six collisions have occurred on the section of road between, but not including, Brimorton Drive and Merkley Square. No specific pattern was established in these collisions.

Conclusions:

The installation of a centre left turn lane and the complementary No Parking Anytime restriction on Orton Park Road between Brimorton Drive and Merkley Square will assist turning movements at the numerous driveways in the area. These amendments are recommended by Road and Traffic Services and also supported by the Curran Hall Community Association Executive.

Contact Name:

Bruce Clayton

Supervisor, Traffic Investigations, Works and Environment, Scarborough District

Telephone: 396-7844

Fax: 396-5681

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

(Copies of Appendices 1, 2 and 3, referred to in the foregoing report, are on file in the office of the City Clerk.)

(Attachment is also on file in the office of the City Clerk.)

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