The Committee recommends the adoption of the report (August 25, 1997) from the Commissioner of City Works Services:

 Origin: Commissioner of City Works Services (p:\1997\ug\cws\ipt\cs970265.ipt) - sah

 Recommendations:

 1.That approval be given to alter the pavement within the intersection of Highland Avenue, Roxborough Drive and Scholfield Avenue for traffic calming purposes, described as follows:

 2.That the introduction of a one-way operation in a counterclockwise direction around the traffic circle in the intersection identified in Recommendation No. 1 above, be approved coincident with the implementation of the work;

 3.That the existing "Stop" regulations at the Highland Avenue/Roxborough Drive/Scholfield Avenue intersection be rescinded and that the introduction of "Yield" signs at all five legs of the intersection be approved coincident with the implementation of the work; and

 4.That the appropriate City Officials be authorized to take whatever action is necessary to implement the foregoing, including the introduction in Council of any Bills that might be required to authorize the work and amend the appropriate Schedules of Chapter 400 of the Municipal Code accordingly.

 Comments: Councillor John Adams and staff of City Works Services have over the past few months examined traffic conditions at the request of residents in the North Rosedale area generally south of the CPR corridor and east of Mount Pleasant Road. Although a number of potential traffic calming measures for various area streets were considered, the review ultimately focused on traffic conditions at the intersection of Highland Avenue, Roxborough Drive and Scholfield Avenue. A proposal has been developed which would use a circular island, or traffic circle, in the middle of the intersection to direct traffic within the intersection in a counterclockwise direction, thus slowing down vehicles through the intersection and improving safety.

 The intersection of Highland Avenue, Roxborough Drive and Scholfield Avenue is a 5-legged intersection with a very large expanse of pavement (approximately 30 metres across). The intersection itself is formed by the meeting of five residential streets, all of which have two-way operations. Currently traffic is controlled on Highland Avenue and on Scholfield Avenue by stop signs. The intersection handles about 2,500 vehicles per day in total and there is a Toronto Transit Commission bus route operating on Scholfield Avenue and the east portion of Highland Avenue.

 Residents are concerned by the speed of traffic through the intersection, in particular traffic approaching eastbound on Roxborough Drive, where because of the gradient, it would not be advisable to implement stop control. The lack of any guidance to vehicles manoeuvring within the intersection, particularly left turning vehicles, is also of concern. In order to limit the travel portion of the roadway within the intersection a circle with a diameter of 14 metres should be installed, approximately in the centre of the intersection, thus reducing the available roadway to about 8.5 metres from the closest curb. This circle would have a 1 m apron which could be used for larger vehicles, encircling a 1 m wide sidewalk with a 10 m wide raised, planted area contained by a low brick wall. The proposal is illustrated in the attached print of Drawing No. 421F-5119 dated August 25, 1997. The plantings could be flowers, shrubs, or something of a similar nature in keeping with the surrounding area. This island vegetation will be maintained by the area residents.

 In order for traffic to operate safely in the situation proposed above, the travel portion of the roadway within the intersection would be required to have a one-way counterclockwise operation (i.e., all traffic entering the circle must turn right and continue going counterclockwise around the circle until reaching the desired exit). The approaches to the circle would have to be appropriately signed, alerting motorists that they must yield to traffic in the circle ahead, and that there is a one-way operation in effect. All existing stop signs at the intersection should be removed.

 Implementation of the above proposal would result in some minor inconveniences to motorists wishing to make left turns at this intersection as they will have to proceed around the circle.

 The installation of a traffic circle in the intersection of Highland Avenue, Roxborough Drive and Scholfield Avenue and the associated road narrowings constitutes an alteration to a public highway pursuant to the provisions of the Municipal Act.

 As City Services Committee knows, pursuant to the requirements of the Municipal Act, the intent of Council to enact a by-law to authorize any physical changes resulting in the alteration of the pavement alignment must be advertised and subsequently be subject to a public hearing. Given that there is not enough time left in this term of Council, it will not be possible to complete the process this year. However, Councillor Adams has requested that this report be submitted at this time as approval of this matter by Council on September 22, 1997 will enable the statutory advertising to proceed and a hearing to be held early in the term of the new Council. In the interim, consultations with the Toronto Transit Commission and emergency services agencies will be undertaken to ensure that the detailed design does not unduly hamper their respective operations.

 The estimated cost of this proposal is $50,000. Funds for this purpose have been included in the City Works Services 1998 Capital Budget request under bicycle lane and traffic calming initiatives and if the budget is approved and by-laws enacted upon consideration of deputations at a public hearing as noted above, the work can be implemented in 1998.

 This project is pre-approved in accordance with Schedule A of the Class Environmental Assessment for Municipal Road Projects.

Insert Table/Map No. 1

Dwg. No. 421F-5119 dated Aug. 25, 1997

The Committee also had before it a communication (September 2, 1997) from Erin O'Connor and Pat Faircloth which is included in the additional material and is on file with the City Clerk.