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

Subject:Restricting Stopping on Littles Road at Fleming Public School, Scarborough Malvern

Purpose:

To investigate the need for a stopping restriction in front of Fleming Public School on Littles Road.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

The $ 400 (approximate) funds associated with the installation of the stopping restriction signs is available in the Road & Traffic Services 1998 Budget, Account No. 20000-70200-72260.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)the stopping restriction signs identified in Appendix 1 of this report be rescinded;

(2)the stopping restriction signs identified in Appendix 2 of this report be adopted; and

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

Council Reference/Background/History:

Road and Traffic Services received notice from the Toronto Police, Community Programs Support Unit that a school safety patrol is being recommended at Fleming Public School. The intention was to start this program in September 1998 at the north intersection of Littles Road and Grayson Crescent. As such, a regulation School Crossing will be installed at this intersection.

Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:

Littles Road is a residential collector road with a posted 40 kilometre per hour speed limit. Fleming Public School is on the west side of the road, east of Morningside Avenue and south of Sewells Road. Currently, parking is allowed along a portion of the front of the school and stopping is restricted during weekdays on the opposite side. A School Bus Loading Zone also exists on the west side of the road. Toronto Transit Commission bus stops are both north and south of the school. One stop was recently moved from Grayson Crescent to Rangeley Drive to ensure clear sight lines at the proposed School Crossing.

Pedestrian Crossing Observations

Road & Traffic Services staff recorded the volume and location of pedestrians crossing by this school during our September 15, 1997 site investigations. The following tables show the result of our observations:

These tables show that there are a substantial number of pedestrians crossing in the area of Fleming Public School (there was a total of 364 total pedestrian crossings by the school during the two hours of observation). Although it is not indicated on these tables, most of the pedestrian crossings were concentrated between Grayson Crescent and Littles Road (north intersection) and a point further north by the intersection of Birrell Avenue and Littles Road. A park pathway just opposite Rangeley Drive was also noted as a significant pedestrian focal point.

Considering these crossing volumes, we support the recommendation by the police to install a School Crossing in front of Fleming Public School.

Traffic Operations - On-Street Parking Observations

An assessment of the current parking restrictions was also undertaken on Monday, September 15, 1997 during class admission/dismissal to determine the efficiency of the current on-street parking restrictions. The following table shows the results of these observations:

*Illegal Parking (All Vehicles NOT School Buses)

It is encouraging that there is limit demand for off-street parking directly abutting the school. This is due to efficient use of the existing turning loop at the school.

Parking in the area referenced between the school driveways will be eliminated to accommodate a ANo Stopping Anytime@ restriction. This restriction is required to ensure good sight lines for the pedestrians and school safety patrollers in the vicinity of the proposed School Crossing and for motorists exiting the school turning loop driveway. Furthermore, the time restriction of the stopping restriction posted on the opposite/east side of the road will be amended to reflect the current A8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday@ period posted at other Scarborough schools.

Collision History

It is important to note that in June of 1997, a pedestrian/vehicle collision occurred close to Fleming Junior Public School. The particulars of the this collision, are as follows:

On Thursday, June 12, 1997 at 3:45 p.m. a pedestrian crossed Littles Road without yielding the right-of-way to oncoming traffic. Fortunately, according to the police collision report, this collision did not result in anything beyond minor injuries to the pedestrian (that was noted as an 8 years old student of Fleming Public School). The southbound vehicle in this instance was only travelling at an approximate rate of 25 kilometres per hour.

It is also significant that both parties in the collision were residents of the neighbourhood and this collision occurred during inclement weather. The motorist involved in this collision was not charged with any driving offence.

Additional examinations into the collision history of this area from January 1, 1993 to December 31, 1996 indicate that there have been seven reported collisions in this area of the school along Littles Road. There has not been any general trend in these collisions (one collision in 1993, two collisions in 1994, two collisions in 1995 and two more in 1996) beyond that of drivers Afailing to yield the right-of-way@ to other drivers.

Nonetheless, it should be noted that, two other incidents involving pedestrians have also been documented in police reports. One of these incidents, in September 1996, involved an area resident slipping on wet grass as she rushed to catch a bus. This collision resulted in minor injuries to the woman. The remaining pedestrian collision, again in September 1996, occurred when a bicyclist struck the rear of a slow moving bus. The police report indicated that the bicycle did not have any brakes. Again, fortunately, the rider (that was noted as an 9 years old student of Fleming Public School) sustained only minor injuries.

According to the police reports, Athe responsibility@ for the occurrence of these pedestrian related collisions was assigned to each pedestrian involved. Examination of these reports shows that all three motorists were considered to be driving properly when the collisions occurred.

Conclusions:

The stopping restriction proposed in front of the school will provide good sight lines for pedestrians utilizing the proposed School Crossing, provided they are obeyed by motorists. The impact of these restrictions on pick-up/drop-off at the school should be minimal as most motorists currently utilize the off-street loop provided by the school. Motorists do continue to have the option of parking a block away from the school and walking the remainder of the way. This action would greatly reduce the traffic congestion in front of the school.

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 Appendicies 1 and 2, referred to in the foregoing report, are on file in the office of the City Clerk.)

(Attachments are also on file in the office of the City Clerk.)     

c:\work\wpwork\reports\littles.wpd