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 Goldhawk Trail at Agnes MacPhail
PublicSchool, Scarborough Malvern
Purpose:
To address the need for parking/stopping restrictions on Goldhawk Trail adjacent to Agnes
MacPhail Public School.
Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
The $350.00 (approximate) funds associated with the installation of these parking and
stopping restriction signs are available in the Road & Traffic Services 1998 Budget,
Account No. 20000-70200-72260.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1)the stopping regulations identified in Appendix 1 of this report be rescinded;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 Wayne Hamilton of Agnes
MacPhail Public School and Road and Traffic Services staff, school related traffic/parking
conditions were examined.
Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:
Goldhawk Trail is a residential collector road located north of McNicoll Avenue between
McCowan Road and Brimley Road. 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. Along both sides of the road, "No Stopping, 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., Monday -
Friday" restrictions are posted.
Traffic Operation Studies
Traffic studies were conducted on Monday, February 9, 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 following table shows that most
motorists, when given an option, choose to park on-street along the north side of Goldhawk
Trail in front of the school.
Study Period 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. |
Study Period 3:00 p.m. - 4:00
p.m. |
Parking on Goldhawk Trail
(N. Side)
Parking on Goldhawk Trail (S.
Side) |
76
12 |
Parking on Goldhawk Trail
(N. Side)
Parking on Goldhawk Trail (S.
Side) |
61
20 |
School Mini Buses |
0 |
School Mini Buses |
0 |
Parking Lot Use
- Inbound:
- Outbound: |
26
11 |
Parking Lot Use
- Inbound:
- Outbound: |
16
14 |
Three Point Turns - (Both
Sides) |
2 |
Three Point Turns - (Both
Sides) |
1 |
This table shows that parents/guardians choose to ignore the existing "No Stopping, 7:00
a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday to Friday" restrictions on both sides of Goldhawk Trail.
However, there was a greater tendency for most parents/guardians to park directly abutting
the school grounds while fewer motorists parked on the south or opposite side of the road.
By changing the by-law on this street to allow temporary school side parking, we are
attempting to maintain two lanes of travel through this area and increase pedestrian/motorist
safety.
Other traffic observations in this area, shown on this table, indicate that no buses parked in
front of the school during either the morning or afternoon pedestrian activity times. It should
also be noted that while the parking lot was also used by some motorists, it is the
responsibility of the school to manage the access of this portion of their property.
Pedestrian Crossing Observations
Road and Traffic Services staff also recorded the volume and location of pedestrian
crossings by Agnes MacPhail Public School. Fortunately, no conflicts were recorded
between any pedestrians and motorists during our studies. The following tables show our
observations:
8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Pedestrian Crossings - Goldhawk Trail, in front of
school |
Pedestrians Crossing to the
North Side
of Goldhawk Trail (towards
school) |
Pedestrians Crossing to the South
Side
of Goldhawk Trail (away from
school) |
Adults |
38 |
Adults |
21 |
Assisted Children (with
adults) |
26 |
Assisted Children (with adults) |
0 |
Children crossing by
themselves |
31 |
Children crossing by
themselves |
1 |
3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Pedestrian Crossings - Goldhawk Trail, in front of
school |
Pedestrians Crossing to the
North Side
of Goldhawk Trail (towards
school) |
Pedestrians Crossing to the South
Side
of Goldhawk Trail (away from
school) |
Adults |
14 |
Adults |
15 |
Assisted Children (with
adults) |
0 |
Assisted Children (with adults) |
18 |
Children crossing by
themselves |
0 |
Children crossing by
themselves |
11 |
These tables reflect typical patterns of pedestrians passing to/from both schools during the
respective admission and dismissal hours. Although not shown on these tables, many
pedestrian movements were also associated to those vehicles waiting along side the school
and, therefore, these pedestrians did not cross Goldhawk Trail.
Most of the pedestrian crossings were occurring at the all-way stop intersection of
Goldhawk Trail at Hutchcroft Avenue. The occasional mid-block crossings occurred when
pedestrians were generated by motorists parked on the south side of Goldhawk Trail. Again,
most importantly, no conflicts between motorists or pedestrians were recorded during our
study.
Collision History
In addition to the studies outlined above, Road and Traffic Services conducted a thorough
three-year collision review by the school (1994, 1995 & 1996). Only two collisions were
reported in this area of the school during this time. Both of these collisions occurred during
non-school hours and involved nothing beyond minor property damage. Given the nature of
these driver error collisions, additional analysis is not required at this time.
Conclusions:
Some alterations to the existing on-street parking restrictions along Goldhawk Trail 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 directly in front of the school such that private vehicle passengers can directly
access the schools without having to cross in front of through traffic. This recommendation
will provide sufficient room for approximately 8 private vehicles to park temporarily.
Altering the "No Stopping, 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Monday - Friday" restrictions on the
south side of Goldhawk Trail to show the new restriction hours of "No Stopping, 8:00 a.m. -
4:00 p.m, Monday - Friday". The new restrictions hours are recommended because it will
make them more consistent with many other recently altered signs in school areas in the
Scarborough District.
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
Works and Emergency Services
Scarborough District
Appendix 1
"No Stopping"
Prohibition to be Rescinded
Column 1Column 2Column 3Column 4
HighwaySideFromToTimes or Days
Goldhawk BothPondtail DriveHutchcroft 7:00 a.m. to
Trail(East Avenue 6:00 p.m.
Intersection) Monday to
Friday
Appendix 2
"No Stopping"
Prohibition to be Enacted
Column 1Column 2Column 3Column 4
HighwaySideFromToTimes or Days
GoldhawkSouthPondtail Hutchcroft 8:00 a.m. to
TrailDrive Avenue 4:00 p.m.
(EastMonday to
Intersection)Friday
"Parking for Restricted Periods"
Prohibition to be Enacted
Column 1Column 2Column 3Column 4Column 5
Maximum
Period
HighwaySideFromToTimes or DaysPermitted
GoldhawkNorthPondtail 78 metres 8:00 a.m. to30 minutes
TrailDrivefurther 4:00 p.m.
(EasteastMonday to
Intersection)Friday