October 13, 1998

To:Toronto Community Council

From:A. Koropeski, Director, Transportation Services, District 1

Subject:Oak Park Avenue from Danforth Avenue to Newmarket Avenue - Reduction of the speed limit to 40 kilometres per hour (East Toronto)

Purpose:

To reduce the operating speed of vehicles on this section of Oak Park Avenue and improve operational safety.

Funding Sources:

Not Applicable.

Recommendations:

(1)That the maximum speed limit on Oak Park Avenue from Danforth Avenue to Newmarket Avenue be reduced from 50 kilometres per hour to 40 kilometres per hour; and

(2)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.

Comments:

At the request of Councillor Tom Jakobek and in consultation with Councillor Sandra Bussin, staff of Works and Emergency Services have reviewed a speeding complaint on Oak Park Avenue from Danforth Avenue to Newmarket Avenue with a view to reducing the operating speeds of traffic.

Oak Park Avenue between Danforth Avenue and Newmarket Avenue is a residential street operating two-way with a pavement width of 8.53 metres and a 50 kilometres per hour maximum speed limit. Alternate side parking and overnight permit parking regulations are in effect on this section of Oak Park Avenue.

A 24-hour speed and volume survey carried out on August 12, 1998 on Oak Park Avenue between Gates Avenue and Newmarket Avenue recorded a total of 887 vehicles travelling on this street of which 102 vehicles (11.5%) exceeded the speed limit. Only 1 vehicle was recorded traveling at an excessive rate of speed in excess of 10 km/h over the speed limit.

The previous City of Toronto Council, at its meeting on August 21, 1997 adopted, as amended, Clause 28 in City Services Committee Report No. 10 entitled Installation of Speed Humps on City Streets which sets out five primary criteria that must be satisfied when evaluating requests for speed humps. As the primary criteria stipulates among other things that the current posted speed limit should be 40 km/h and that the daily traffic volume should be between 1,000 and 8,000 vehicles on the street being evaluated for speed hump installation, Oak Park Avenue from Danforth Avenue to Newmarket Avenue does not presently satisfy the installation criteria for speed humps.

As an alternative, the maximum speed limit on Oak Park Avenue between Danforth Avenue and Newmarket Avenue should be reduced from 50 km/h to 40 km/h. This would be consistent with the policy within the Toronto Community Council=s area to reduce the speed limit to 40 km/h on local/residential streets to enhance operational safety and reduce incidence of speeding.

Contact Name and Telephone Number:

David G. Dignard, 392-7771

Director.

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