July 8, 1998

 To:Toronto Community Council

 From:A. Koropeski, Director, Infrastructure Planning and Transportation, City Works Services

 Subject:South Eglinton Area (East) Traffic Calming Project (Phase I) - Poll Results (North Toronto)

 Purpose:

 To report the results of a poll of residents and business owners and operators in the South Eglinton Area (East) bounded by Mount Pleasant Road, Eglinton Avenue East, Bayview Avenue and the Mount Pleasant Cemetery concerning the existing traffic calming measures in this area and recommend a course of action reflecting the poll results.

 Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

 Funds to cover the costs of removing traffic calming islands and reinstating the prior traffic and parking conditions in this area, in the estimated amount of $100,000, can be accommodated under Capital Fund Code No. 296702 for traffic calming.

 Recommendations:

 1.That in order to authorize the removal of the traffic islands in the South Eglinton Area (East) illustrated schematically in the attached Drawing No. 421F-4556, revised January 9, 1997, and restore the roads to their pre-existing conditions, as reflected in the results of the poll of area residents, the following should be approved:

 a)By-law No. 1996-0141 authorizing the narrowing of sections of streets in the area bounded by Eglinton Avenue East, Bayview Avenue, Mount Pleasant Cemetery and Mount Pleasant Road be rescinded;

 b) The parking regulation changes implemented in conjunction with the traffic calming plan be rescinded to reinstate the prior parking conditions, as indicated in Appendix C of this report;

 2. That in light of the mandate from a majority of poll respondents in the South Eglinton Area (East) to pursue the development of alternative traffic management measures, Works and Emergency Services staff be authorized to provide technical assistance to the Ward Councillors and/or residents' traffic committee(s) that express an interest in developing such plans; and

3.That the appropriate City Officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto including the introduction in Council of any Bills that may be required.

 Background:

 Toronto Community Council, at its meeting of February 18, 1998, in considering a Works report (February 10, 1998) outlining the results of initial technical monitoring of the first phase of the South Eglinton Area (East) Traffic Calming Project, referred the matter to the North Toronto Ward Councillors to enable them to obtain public input and feedback.

 Based on the results of two public meetings convened in the community in late March/early April by Councillors Anne Johnston and Michael Walker, and discussed in a subsequent Works status report (April 22, 1996), City Council at its meeting of May 13, 1998 authorized City staff to conduct a poll of residents in the South Eglinton Area (East) to determine whether the community wished to retain and improve the existing traffic calming measures, remove them or pursue other forms of traffic management.

 Comments:

 As authorized by Council, a ballot was conducted for adult area residents and business owners and operators. Individually-addressed ballots were sent out by mail commencing June 10, 1998. The poll closed on June 30, 1998. Each ballot was accompanied by a postage-paid reply envelope and a two-page background sheet. The ballot for residents and background sheet are attached as Appendix A of this report.

 The response rate was 37%. The overall results were as follows:

 In addition, 53 ballots were spoiled (no option selected, multiple options) and not included in the above results. A detailed breakdown of the results by street is contained in Appendix B.

 Overall, there was a clear majority (72%) of respondents in favour of removal of the traffic islands as soon as practicable (Options 1 and 3 combined). This was also the result for each individual street, although the level of support varied from 55% (Merton Street) to 100% (on Harwood Road, a small street with no traffic islands). Based on this result, it is apparent that the removal of the traffic islands as soon as practicable throughout the area is the appropriate course of action.

 The first phase of the South Eglinton Area (East) traffic calming plan, as it currently exists in the field is illustrated schematically in the attached Drawing No. 421F-4556, revised January 9, 1997. In all, 85 traffic islands are installed to narrow roadways and intersections at 41 locations. In the event that Recommendation No. 1 above is adopted, Works would undertake the removal of the islands and reinstatement of the pre-existing parking regulations as soon as possible. Appendix C attached to this report sets out the corresponding parking regulation amendments needed to restore the previous parking arrangements. In addition, 15 m to corner parking prohibition signs were installed at the intersections listed in Appendix D to ensure adequate turn manoeuvring space in the vicinity of certain islands. With the removal of the islands the signs will also be taken out, leaving the statutory 9 m to corner parking prohibition in effect.

 The removal of the traffic islands would constitute alterations to public highways pursuant to the Municipal Act. Given the extensive polling that has just taken place of all adult residents and business operators, not to mention the previous public meetings and ongoing dialogue in this community, and that the proposal represents a continuation of the on-going process for traffic management in this area, there would not appear to be a requirement to re-advertise.

 Although there is a clear result to remove the existing traffic islands, a majority of respondents (59%) also expressed support for the development of additional or other forms of traffic management (Options 2 and 3 combined). As was pointed out on the ballots, the process of developing and installing new traffic management measures as envisaged by Options 2 or 3 would involve residents, staff and the Ward Councillors. Public meetings and further polling in the neighbourhood once a proposal is advanced could be expected.

 It is evident from the poll results that interest in pursuing other traffic management alternatives is stronger on some streets, such as Merton Street (74%) than others. Residents on these streets may wish to initiate a review of options within a shorter time frame. It is also important to note that the option of speed humps is available now which was not authorized at the time the South Eglinton plan was developed. A review of the primary criteria as set out in the Council-approved policy indicates that many of the area streets would qualify for consideration of this measure. The policy also establishes a formal polling procedure to determine whether residents would support the installation of speed humps.

  Given the poll results that indicate residents support the development of alternate traffic management measures, it is appropriate to authorize staff to assist residents who wish to pursue such plans as indicated in Recommendation No. 2 above. These alternatives may continue to emerge on an area-wide basis or can be considered on individual streets if the impacts would not be overly detrimental on other streets.

 Conclusions:

 The results of a poll of residents and business owners and operators in the South Eglinton Area (East), bounded by Eglinton Avenue East, Bayview Avenue, Mount Pleasant Cemetery and Mount Pleasant Road, indicate that 72% of respondents favour removal of the existing traffic islands in the neighbourhood. It is therefore recommended that authority be granted to remove these measures as soon as practicable.

 On the other hand, 59% of respondents indicate that they support the development of alternative traffic management measures. In view of this mandate, it is also recommended that staff be authorized to assist the Ward Councillors or residents' traffic committee(s) who express interest in pursuing such plans.

 Contact Name and Telephone Number:

 Andrew Macbeth

Manager, Transportation Management Branch

392-1799

    Director

 AK/AGM/ah

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Appendix A

 Toronto City Hall

100 Queen Street West

Toronto, Ontario

Canada M5H 2N2

______________________________________________________________________________

Works and Emergency Services

Infrastructure Planning and Transportation Division

25^th Floor, East Tower, Toronto City Hall

 June 1998

 Poll of residents of area bounded by Eglinton Avenue East,

Bayview Avenue, Mount Pleasant Cemetery and Mount Pleasant Road

 SOUTH EGLINTON AREA (EAST) TRAFFIC CALMING PLAN

 Please let us know your views on the existing traffic calming plan in South Eglinton by completing and returning the accompanying ballot. Each ballot must be signed by an adult (i.e. 18 years or older) resident of the area or an owner or operator of an area business. Each ballot must be sealed in an official, postage paid envelope and received (by mail or hand-delivered) by City staff at the 25^th Floor, East Tower, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West by 12 noon on June 30, 1998 in order to be valid. If you know of someone who is eligible to vote but did not receive a ballot, and who wishes to vote, he or she may request a ballot by phoning 392-7711 or writing to Works and Emergency Services at the above-noted address. Proof of residence or business location in the area (such as a copy of a recent utility bill or current drivers licence) will be required to add a voter to the list of eligible voters for this ballot.

 The returned ballots will be treated in confidence and are subject to the provisions of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

 Background

 In May 1997, the installation of traffic islands at 41 locations throughout the South Eglinton area was completed, pursuant to the City's 1994 traffic calming policy. This resulted from efforts by residents and members of the ratepayer association who had expressed longstanding concerns about the speed and volume of traffic using neighbourhood streets. Traffic calming techniques were used as an alternative to the more conventional approaches of controlling traffic such as one-way streets, turn and entry restrictions and road closures. Several such plans had failed to gain support over a period of more than 20 years because they tended to divert traffic from one street to another and make access for residents more difficult. Nonetheless, there has been a sustained demand to address concerns about traffic impacts on neighbourhood streets.

 Following from the Balliol Street Traffic Calming Pilot Project in 1994, and a consultation process including a variety of public meetings, City Council approved the first phase of the South Eglinton area-wide plan using temporary modular traffic islands at selected locations. Although the overall plan envisaged traffic calming measures at 170 locations, the initial phase (which is now in place) involved 41 locations and consisted of:

• narrowings of the internal roads at the boundary arterial roads (i.e. Bayview Avenue, Eglinton Avenue East, Mount Pleasant Road).

• road narrowings at the busier internal intersections within the area (i.e. Cleveland Street, Forman Avenue).

• narrowings to create a "chicane" alignment on Merton Street at Pottery Playground, and on Davisville Avenue at Hodgson School.
•  This first phase had as its main objectives the reduction of traffic speeds at the noted locations on Merton Street and Davisville Avenue, and speed reductions at the boundaries and key internal intersections. Because this phase did not involve measures spaced uniformly throughout the length of the streets, mid-block speed reductions were not projected as a result of this initial implementation. As well, since the plan was not designed to prohibit any particular traffic movements, the reduction of traffic volumes was not a prime goal. It was envisaged that over time as streets in South Eglinton come up for planned reconstruction work, a permanent treatment, similar to Balliol Street, would be considered to replace the temporary modular island units.

 The project was divided into phases using the modular traffic islands to test the traffic calming techniques, lower the costs relative to the permanent construction methods used on Balliol Street, and yet provide some measure of traffic calming throughout the area. The first phase was also intended to facilitate further consultation in the community. In this regard, Councillors Michael Walker and Anne Johnston convened two public meetings (March 25 and April 7, 1998) which were attended by about 300 people in total, to obtain community input and consider results of preliminary monitoring of the project.

 At the meetings it was decided that a ballot should be distributed to all adult residents and business owners or operators in the area to determine the views of the community about the South Eglinton area traffic calming plan. It was also decided that opponents of the plan and members of the South Eglinton Ratepayers and Residents Association (SERRA) would provide input to the development of this ballot. The results of the poll will be tabulated for the whole area and by street. A public meeting of the Toronto Community Council at which residents will be able to express their views will be held to consider the results and make recommendations to City Council. This process relates only to the traffic calming islands and associated works of the South Eglinton plan. The Balliol Street traffic calming project (between Mount Pleasant Road and Cleveland Street), which has been in place since 1994 and consists of 12 permanent traffic calming measures, is not being considered for removal as part of this ballot process. In the event that the majority of residents vote to retain the existing traffic islands of the South Eglinton traffic calming plan, efforts will be made to improve the appearance of them.

Toronto City Hall

100 Queen Street West

Toronto, Ontario

Canada M5H 2N2

__________________________________________________________________________________

Works and Emergency Services

Infrastructure Planning and Transportation Division

25^th Floor, East Tower, Toronto City Hall

  OCCUPANTS NAME

ADDRESS

  BALLOT

 Appendix B - South Eglinton Area (East) Polling Results

Appendix C -Parking Regulation Amendments Required to Rescind South Eglinton Area (East) Traffic Calming Plan

  Delete the following

400-77 - Schedule XXIV - No Stopping

 2.Add the following

400-77 - Schedule XXIV - No Stopping

 Delete the following:

400-76 - Schedule XXIII - No Parking Certain Times

 Add the following:

400-76 - Schedule XXIII - No Parking Certain Times

 Appendix D -Statutory 15 m Corner Parking Prohibition Signage To Be Removed