June 29, 1998
To:Chairman and Members of the Scarborough Community Council
From:Gary Welsh, Director, Road and Traffic Services, Works and Emergency Services,
Scarborough District
Subject:Traffic and Parking Concerns on Vradenberg Drive at Vradenburg Junior
PublicSchool, Scarborough Wexford
Purpose:
To address the need for parking/stopping restrictions on Vradenberg Drive adjacent to
Vradenburg Junior Public School.
Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
The $500.00 (approximate) funds associated with the installation of these parking and
stopping restriction signs are available in the Road and Traffic Services 1998 Budget,
Account No. 20000-70200-72260.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1)the parking regulations identified in Appendix 1 of this report be rescinded;
(2)the parking and stopping regulations identified in Appendix 2 of this report be adopted;
and
(3)the appropriate by-laws be amended accordingly.
Council Reference/Background/History:
As a result of a telephone conversation between Principal Richard McLaren of Vradenburg
Junior Public School and Road and Traffic Services staff, school related traffic/parking
conditions were examined.
Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:
Vradenberg Drive is a residential collector road located south of Sheppard Avenue between
Pharmacy Avenue and Warden Avenue. A 40 kilometre per hour speed limit is posted on
this road and appropriate school area signs exist warning motorists of the presence of
children in the area. A walkway provides access from the community to the south side of the
road, opposite the school. Along both sides of the road, parking is restricted between 7:00
a.m. and 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Traffic Operation Studies
Traffic studies were conducted on Monday, February 23, 1998 between the hours of 8:00
a.m. and 9:00 a.m., and 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. The results of these observations are shown
in the following tables.
Study Period 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. |
Study Period 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. |
Parking on Vradenberg Dr. -
North Side
Parking on Vradenberg Dr. -
South Side |
15
3 |
Parking on Vradenberg Dr. -
North Side
Parking on Vradenberg Dr. -
South Side |
12
2 |
School Buses
Parking On-Street
Using the School Staff Parking
Lot
Using the School Turning
Loop |
0
5
0 |
School Buses
Parking On-Street
Using the School Staff Parking
Lot
Using the School Turning
Loop |
0
6
0 |
Parking Lot Use
- vehicles inbound
- vehicles outbound
School Turning Loop Use
- vehicles inbound
- vehicles outbound
|
58
48
33
33 |
Parking Lot Use
- vehicles inbound
- vehicles outbound
School Turning Loop Use
- vehicles inbound
- vehicles outbound |
34
26
14
14 |
Three Point Turns |
2 |
Three Point Turns |
5 |
This table shows that most parents/guardians prefer to park directly abutting the school
grounds, despite the existing "No Parking, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday"
restrictions. Also, as shown by this table, some motorists choose to park on the 'opposite'
side of Vradenberg Drive. This practice of parking on both sides of the street, even if it is
only a couple of vehicles at a time, congests the roadway and restricts regular through
traffic.
This table also shows that some motorists choose to use both the school parking lot and the
turning loop to pick-up/drop off their children. It was evident that staggered activity times at
the school (eg. daycare start times before regular school classes) helped to alleviate the
parking demand.
It was noted that several vehicles made three-point-turns in front of the school. Road &
Traffic Services is concerned that motorists making "three-point turns" in a school area, add
to the congestion.
Pedestrian Observations - Vradenberg Drive
Road and Traffic Services staff also recorded the volume and location of pedestrian
crossings by the school on Vradenberg Drive. The following tables show these observations:
Study Period 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Pedestrian Crossings by Vradenburg
Jr. P.S. |
Pedestrians Crossing to the North
Side
of Vradenberg Drive (towards
school) |
Pedestrians Crossing to the South
Side
of Vradenberg Drive (away from
school) |
Children |
3 |
Children |
0 |
Assisted Children |
6 |
Assisted Children |
0 |
Adults |
7 |
Adults |
4 |
Study Period 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Walkway Crossings by #47
Vradenberg Dr. |
Pedestrians Crossing at the Intersection (Both Directions) |
Children |
5 |
Assisted Children |
13 |
Adults |
15 |
Study Period 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Pedestrian Crossings by Vradenburg
Jr. P.S. |
Pedestrians Crossing to the North
Side
of Vradenberg Drive (towards
school) |
Pedestrians Crossing to the South
Side
of Vradenberg Drive (away from
school) |
Children |
0 |
Children |
2 |
Assisted Children |
0 |
Assisted Children |
4 |
Adults |
5 |
Adults |
4 |
Study Period 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Walkway Crossings by #47
Vradenberg Dr. |
Pedestrians Crossing at the Intersection (Both Directions) |
Children |
2 |
Assisted Children |
8 |
Adults |
12 |
These tables reflect typical patterns of pedestrians passing to/from both schools during the
respective admission and dismissal hours. In addition, although not shown on these tables,
many pedestrian movements were associated to those vehicles waiting along side the school
and therefore, these pedestrians did not cross Vradenberg Drive. It should also be stressed
that, throughout our observations, no conflicts were recorded between any pedestrian and
motorists.
Collision History
In addition to the studies outlined above, Road & Traffic Services conducted a three-year
collision review of the this area (1996, 1995 and 1994) that revealed that only two collisions
have been reported during this time period.
Both of these collisions occurred in 1994. The first of these involved a 21 year old bicyclist
striking a stopped vehicle. Thankfully only minimal injuries were sustained by the bicyclist
who was later charged. The remaining collision in 1994 involved one motorist failing to
yield the right-of-way. No charges were laid in this collision. Further analysis is not
warranted at this time because neither of these collisions could have been prevented with
normal traffic management devices.
Conclusions:
Some alterations to the existing on-street parking restrictions along Vradenberg Drive can
make them more consistent with changes at other schools. Specifically, installing "30
Minute Parking, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday - Friday" signs along the school/north side of
the road such that vehicle passengers can directly access the school without having to cross
in front of through traffic. This recommendation will provide sufficient room for
approximately 14 private vehicles to park temporarily.
Altering the remaining "No Parking, 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Monday - Friday" restriction
opposite the front of the school to show the new restriction of "No Stopping, 8:00 a.m. -
4:00 p.m, Monday - Friday". This new restriction is recommended to discourage temporary
parking on this side of the road.
We have spoken with the Toronto Police, Community Programs Support Unit who have
indicated that due to the relatively low pedestrian crossing volumes at this location, a school
safety patrol program is not required. This program is first required to facilitate the
installation of a School Crossing.
Contact Name:
Bruce Clayton
Supervisor, Traffic Investigations
Works and Emergency Services
Scarborough District
Telephone: 396-7844
Fax: 396-5681
E-mail: clayton@city.scarborough.on.ca
Gary H. Welsh
Director
Road and Traffic Services
Appendix 1
"No Parking"
Prohibition to be Rescinded
Column 1Column 2Column 3Column 4
HighwaySideFromToTimes or Days
VradenbergBoth76.25 metres 112.85 metres7:00 a.m. to
DriveWest offurther west6:00 p.m.
Lowcrest BoulevardMonday to
Friday
Appendix 2
"No Stopping"
Prohibition to be Enacted
Column 1Column 2Column 3Column 4
HighwaySideFromToTimes or Days
VradenbergSouth 76 metres west113 metres further8:00 a.m. to
Driveof Lowcrest west4:00 p.m.
BoulevardMonday to
Friday
"Parking for Restricted Periods"
Prohibition to be Enacted
Column 1Column 2Column 3Column 4Column 5
Maximum
Period
HighwaySideFromToTimes or DaysPermitted
VradenbergNorth 76 metres113 metres8:00 a.m. to30 minutes
Drivewest offurther4:00 p.m.
LowcrestwestMonday to
BoulevardFriday