June 25, 1998

 To:Toronto Community Council

 From:Andrew Koropeski, Director, Infrastructure Planning and Transportation Division, City Works Services

 Subject:Spruce Street between Parliament Street and River Street and River Street between Spruce Street and the ramp to Bayview Avenue - Traffic calming and parking proposal (Don River)

 Purpose:

 To authorize the narrowing and realignment of certain sections of the pavement on Spruce Street to promote reduced vehicular speeds, discourage cut-through traffic and generally enhance safety for all road users, including pedestrians and cyclists.

 Financial Implications:

 The incremental costs involved with implementing the Spruce Street Traffic Calming Plan are estimated to be $70,000.00, funds for which are available in the Works and Emergency Services' 1998 Capital Budget, Account No. 296-802.

 Recommendations:

 1. That approval be given to narrow and alter specified sections of the pavement on Spruce Street from Parliament Street to River Street, on Gifford Street and Nasmith Avenue at their intersection with Spruce Street and on River Street from Spruce Street to the ramp leading to Bayview Avenue for traffic calming purposes, as described in the body of this report and generally as shown on Drawing Nos. 421F-5198 and 421F-5199, dated April 1998, and as follows:

 (a) The narrowing and realignment of the pavement on Spruce Street from Parliament Street to River Street from a width varying from 5.49 metres to 10.30 metres to a width varying from 3.49 metres to 6.30 metres and installation of speed humps;

 (b) The reconfiguration and narrowing of the pavements on Gifford Street and Nasmith Avenue at their respective intersection with Spruce Street from a width of 8.53 metres to a width varying from 8.53 metres to 6.53 metres; and

 (c) The narrowing and realignment of the pavement on River Street from a width of 5.49 metres to a width varying from 3.49 metres to 5.49 metres;

2. That the speed limit on Spruce Street from Parliament Street to River Street and on River Street from Spruce Street to the ramp to Bayview Avenue be reduced from forty kilometres per hour to thirty kilometres per hour, coincident with the implementation of the traffic calming project;

 3. That the parking prohibition at anytime on the south side of Spruce Street from a point 25.0 metres east of Rolston Avenue to Sackville Street, be rescinded;

 4. That stopping be prohibited from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday on the north side of Spruce Street from a point 38.0 metres east of Sackville Street to a point 85.0 metres further east;

 5. That parking be prohibited at anytime on;

 (a) The south side of Spruce Street from a point 38.0 metres east of Rolston Avenue to a point 18.5 metres further east;

 (b) The south side of Spruce Street from a point 67.0 metres east of Rolston Avenue to a point 16.0 metres further east;

 (c) The south side of Spruce Street from a point 110.0 metres east of Rolston Avenue to Sackville Street;

 (d) The north side of Spruce Street from a point 26.0 metres east of Gifford Street to a point 25.0 metres further east;

 (e) The east side of Gifford Street from Spruce Street to a point 15.0 metres south;

 (f) The east side of Nasmith Avenue from Spruce Street to a point 15.0 metres south;

 (g) The east side of Sumach Street from Spruce Street to a point 20.0 metres north;

 6. That permit parking, operating from 12:01 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., daily, be implemented on the south side of Spruce Street from Rolston Avenue to Sackville Street except on the sections identified in Recommendation 5 (a), (b) and (c) above; and

 7. That the appropriate City Officials be requested to take whatever action is necessary to give effect to the foregoing, including the introduction in Council of any Bills that are required.

 Background:

 The Toronto Community Council at its meeting of April 1 and 2, 1998 in considering a communication from Councillor Pam McConnell respecting the Spruce Street Traffic Calming Plan adopted the recommendations contained in the communication and in doing so authorized staff to conduct a poll of residents on Spruce Street and nearby streets which are directly accessed by way of Spruce Street to determine the level of community support for the installation of the traffic calming plan (Clause 96 [nn] in Toronto Community Council Report No.3). This poll has been completed and the results are outlined in the body of this report.

 Comments:

 Over the past two years, concerned residents of Spruce Street in consultation with Councillor Pam McConnell and City staff, have developed a traffic calming plan for Spruce Street incorporating speed humps and selected roadway narrowings intended to deter speeding and through traffic movement on this street.

 Existing Conditions

 Spruce Street from Parliament Street to River Street operates two-way between Parliament Street and Sackville Street on a pavement width of 10.3 metres and one-way eastbound from Sackville Street to River Street on a pavement width of 5.49 metres. River Street from Spruce Street to the ramp leading to Bayview Avenue is about 40 metres in length, has a pavement width of 5.49 metres, operates one-way southbound and essentially is the southerly continuation of Spruce Street connecting with the arterial section of River Street from the top of the Bayview Avenue ramp to King Street East. The following standing/parking regulations are in effect on Spruce Street between Parliament Street and River Street:

North Side

 - standing is prohibited at anytime from a point 53.3 metres east of Parliament Street to a point 18.3 metres further east;

 - parking is prohibited at anytime between River Street and a point 47.2 metres west and from a point 45.7 metres east of Sumach Street to a point 15.7 metres west thereof;

 - permit parking operates from 12:01 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., daily and

 - parking is otherwise allowed for a maximum period of 3 hours.

 South Side

 - standing is prohibited at anytime from a point 21.5 metres east of Parliament Street to a point 20.0 metres further east; and

 - elsewhere, parking is prohibited at anytime.

 Parking is prohibited at anytime on both sides of River Street from Spruce Street to the ramp leading to/from Bayview Avenue.

 Spruce Street is located in permit parking Area 7D where as of June 12, 1998, all parking permits have been issued for the 818 spaces available and a wait list of 144 applicants has been established. Specifically on Spruce Street/River Street between Parliament Street and the Bayview Avenue ramp, 69 permits have been issued to residents against 69 parking spaces available on the street.

 Several 24-hour traffic speed and volume surveys have been conducted over the past five years on different sections of Spruce Street between Parliament Street and River Street. Weekday traffic volumes appear to vary considerably ranging between 900 and 1,900 vehicles daily, depending on which section of the street the survey was taken, with about 30% of the recorded vehicles exceeding the 40 kilometres per hour speed limit and about 5% travelling at a rate of speed in excess of 50 kilometres per hour. Of note is that the highest traffic volume and incidence of speeding occurs on the section of Spruce Street between Sackville Street and Nasmith Avenue where Spruce Court School is located.

 Overview of the Traffic Calming Plan

 Spruce Street is scheduled for resurfacing and reconstruction work in 1998. This work provides an opportunity to incorporate the traffic calming and parking elements proposed for Spruce Street, as shown on the attached drawings and outlined in specific detail below, into the reconstruction project at an estimated incremental cost of about $70,000.00, funds for which are available in our Department's 1998 Capital Budget. The elements of the plan, in combination, are intended to promote reduced vehicular speed and enhance safety for all road users, including pedestrians and cyclists. Reductions in traffic volume are not expected to be significant.

 Physical Measures:

The traffic calming plan features a series of six speed humps spaced at regular intervals, seven curb realignments to narrow the pavement, and textured surface treatments to enhance motorists' awareness of pedestrian crossing areas at several locations between Parliament Street and the River Street ramp. These measures will be located as follows:

 Speed Humps

 i) at a point 90 metres east of Rolston Avenue, in front of Premises Nos. 41 & 42 Spruce Street;

 ii)at a point 52 metres east of Sackville Street, near the west side of Premises No. 70 Spruce Street (Spruce Court School);

 iii) at a point 18 metres east of Gifford Street, near the east side of Premises No. 70 Spruce Street;

 iv) at a point 13 metres east of Nasmith Avenue, in front of Premises No. 82 Spruce Street;

 v) at a point 58 metres east of Sumach Street, in front of Premises Nos. 120-123 Spruce Street; and

 vi) at a point 18 metres east of Sword Street, in front of Premises No. 142 Spruce Street;

 Curb Realignments

 i) a pinch-point in front of Premises Nos. 20 & 27;

 ii) bullnose corner extensions on the northwest and southwest corners of the intersection of Spruce Street and Sackville Street;

 iii) a bullnose corner extension on the southeast corner of the intersection of Spruce Street and Gifford Street;

 iv) a road narrowing at the school crossing immediately west of Premises No. 74;

 v) a bullnose corner extension on the southeast corner of the intersection of Spruce Street and Nasmith Avenue;

 vi) a bullnose corner extension on the northwest corner of the intersection of Spruce Street and Sumach Street; and

 vii) a channelization bullnose on the northeast corner of the intersection of River Street and the ramp to/from Bayview Avenue.

It should be noted that in ground tree pits will be constructed where feasible within the widened sidewalk/boulevard areas created by the localized narrowing and bollards will be installed if and where required.

 Textured Surface Treatments

 i) Brushed concrete pedestrian crossing areas:

 a) across Spruce Street at the east side of Parliament Street;

b) on all four sides at the intersection of Spruce Street and Sackville Street;

c) across Gifford Street at the south side of Spruce Street;

d) across Spruce Street at the south side of Nasmith Avenue;

e) on all four sides at the intersection of Spruce Street and Sumach Street; and

 ii) Inter-locking brick pavers at the school crossing in front of Spruce Court School.

 The realignment and narrowing of the pavements on Spruce and River Streets constitute alterations to public highways pursuant to provisions of the Municipal Act. This work is pre-approved in accordance with Schedule A of the Class Environmental Assessment for Municipal Road Projects.

 Parking Adjustments:

Representatives of Spruce Court School have requested that stopping be prohibited from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday in front of the school to discourage motorists from standing in this area where parking is currently prohibited and to enhance advance sight lines between children leaving the school property (which is not fenced in on the Spruce Street frontage) and motorists travelling on Spruce Street.

 Construction of the curb realignments noted above will eliminate 2 parking spaces on the north side of Spruce Street, immediately east and west of the school crossing in front of Spruce Court School, 2 parking spaces on the east side of Sumach Street, immediately north of Spruce Street (to ensure that a suitable turning radius is maintained for motorists turning from eastbound Spruce Street onto northbound Sumach Street) and 1 parking space respectively at each location on the east side of Gifford Street and on the east side of Nasmith Avenue, immediately south of Spruce Street. An additional 7 parking spaces would be provided between Rolston Avenue and Sackville Street by allowing parking on sections of the south side of the street where it is now prohibited, resulting in a net gain of one parking space in the area.

 Speed Limit:

As the proposal for Spruce Street/River Street will have a significant number of traffic calming elements and calming effect, I suggest that the speed limit be reduced from forty kilometres per hour to thirty kilometres per hour, under special Provincial legislation granted to the former City of Toronto. This reduced speed limit would reinforce the anticipated speed reductions on Spruce Street that will result from the traffic calming measures outlined above and should further improve safety for all road users. The reduction of the speed limit would take effect coincident with the implementation of the traffic calming plan.

 Consultation Process and Poll Results

 Meetings attended by Works staff were held in 1996 with the Spruce Street residents traffic committee, staff of Spruce Court School and staff of Councillor Pam McConnell's office to develop a traffic calming plan for this street. Although several ideas were discussed, interest in finalizing a traffic calming plan waned in 1997 as members of the residents' traffic committee either moved away or could no longer devote time to the issue. However, with the addition of speed humps to the City's inventory of traffic calming measures, interest in implementing a traffic calming plan on Spruce Street incorporating speed humps into the design was re-kindled in 1998, resulting in the initial acceptance by residents of a new traffic calming plan which maintained many of the elements of the original proposal and added speed humps and parking modifications to the plan.

 As noted in the background section of this report, staff have completed a poll of residents on Spruce Street and nearby streets which are directly accessed by way of Spruce Street to determine the level of community support for the installation of the traffic calming plan. Under the City's Speed Hump Policy (adopted by the previous Toronto City Council at its meeting of August 21, 1997) the poll of residents requires that at least 60% of valid responses to the poll endorse the proposal. A total of 364 ballots were mailed out of which 141 (about 39%) of the eligible voters returned valid responses to the poll and the results are as follows:

 In support of the traffic calming plan 111 votes (79%)

Opposed to the traffic calming plan 26 votes (18%)

Spoiled ballots 4 ( 3%)

 Comments on the initial traffic calming plan developed in 1996 were requested from the Chief of Police, the Fire Chief, the Commissioner of Ambulance Services, and staff of the former City of Toronto's Planning and Parks Departments. Comments received in response thereto generally expressed no concern for the traffic calming plan. With the exception of the addition of speed humps to the traffic calming plan, the integrity of the original 1996 plan remains unchanged. I have forwarded copies of the drawings showing the traffic calming plan for Spruce Street and this report to Mr. Daniel Egan - Toronto City Cycling Committee, Mr. Alan Speed - Toronto Fire Chief, Mr.

   David Boothby - Toronto Police Chief, and Mr. Ron Kelusky - Acting General Manager of Ambulance Services. Deputations on the draft by-laws to implement the pavement alterations will be considered by the Toronto Community Council at its meeting of July 22, 1998.

 Contact Name and Telephone Number:

 Ron Hamilton, Transportation Operations Coordinator, 392-1806

  Director

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