November 26, 1998

To:Toronto Community Council

From:Andrew Koropeski, Director, Transportation Services, District 1

Subject:1.Intersection of Tyndall Avenue and Temple Avenue - Request for all-way "Stop" sign control; and

2. Tyndall Avenue from Springhurst Avenue to King Street West - Installation of speed humps (Ward 19 - High Park)

Purpose:

To report on a request for an all-way "Stop" sign control at the Tyndall Avenue/Temple Avenue intersection and to reduce the incidence of speeding vehicles on Tyndall Avenue between Springhurst Avenue and King Street West by the introduction of speed humps.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

The estimated cost for this proposal is $12,000, funds for which are available in the Works and Emergency Services 1998 Capital Fund Code No. 296702.

Recommendations:

(1)That approval be given to alter sections of the roadway on Tyndall Avenue, from Springhurst Avenue to King Street West for traffic calming purposes as described below, with implementation subject to the favourable results of polling of the affected residents pursuant to the policy related to speed hump installation as adopted by the former City of Toronto Council:

"The construction of speed humps on TYNDALL AVENUE from Springhurst Avenue to King Street West, generally as shown on the attached print of Drawing No. 421F-5300, dated November 25, 1998,"

(2)That the speed limit be reduced from forty kilometres per hour to thirty kilometres per hour on Tyndall Avenue from Springhurst Avenue to King Street West, coincident with the implementation of the traffic calming measures; and

(3)That the appropriate City Officials be authorized and directed to take whatever action is necessary to implement the foregoing, including the introduction in Council of any Bills that may be required.

Comments:

At the request of Councillor Chris Korwin-Kuczynski, on behalf of area residents, Works staff investigated the feasibility of installing an all-way "Stop" sign control at the intersection of Tyndall Avenue and Temple Avenue, as well as concerns regarding excessive speeding on Tyndall Avenue from Springhurst Avenue to King Street West with the view to implementing speed humps on this section of road.

Tyndall Avenue from Springhurst Avenue to King Street West operates two-way on a pavement width of 8.8 metres and a speed limit of 40 kilometres per hour. Parking is prohibited at anytime on the west side of Tyndall Avenue and on the east side, parking is permitted for a maximum period of one hour from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily, by permit only from 12:01 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. daily and for a maximum period of three hours at other times.

Temple Avenue runs east from Tyndall Avenue and operates one-way westbound on a pavement width of 7.3 metres with a 40 kilometres per hour speed limit. Right-of-way at the intersection of these two streets is controlled by a "Stop" sign for westbound Temple Avenue traffic.

Request for an all-way "Stop" sign control at the intersection of Tyndall Avenue and Temple Avenue

A recent eight-hour manual traffic survey (which included the morning and afternoon rush periods and the midday off-peak periods) conducted by Works staff at the above intersection recorded combined total of 864 vehicles travelling on Tyndall Avenue and a total of 228 vehicles travelling on Temple Avenue. A total of 125 pedestrians was observed crossing Tyndall Avenue at Temple Avenue and 116 pedestrians crossed Temple Avenue at Tyndall Avenue.

An examination of the Toronto Police Service accident records for the subject intersection revealed that from January 1, 1995 to December 31, 1997 (the most recent data available), there was only one reported collision, which was not pedestrian or cyclists related. This collision involved a westbound car stopped at the Temple Avenue "Stop" sign being rear-ended by another vehicle. The presence of an all-way "Stop" sign control would not have prevented this collision.

Works staff have evaluated this intersection against the criteria governing the installation of "Stop" signs which encompass factors such as right-of-way conflicts, vehicular and pedestrian usage of the intersection, physical and geometric configuration, surrounding area traffic control and safety experience, and concluded that the warrants for an all-way "Stop" sign control have not been satisfied. Specifically, there are no physical characteristics at this intersection which impair visibility for either motorists or pedestrians approaching the intersection, and the intersection appears to be operating safely.

As the main complaint received from residents about traffic operation on Tyndall Avenue appears to be the speed of traffic using this street, the use of an all-way "Stop" sign control to reduce the incidence of speeding is not desirable. Experience has shown that the presence of a "Stop" sign will effect the speed of traffic only within a very short distance of the sign, usually 30 to 40 metres and that speeds increase somewhat farther away from the "Stop" as motorists attempt to make up for lost time. Further, without the presence of rigorous police enforcement, the rate of compliance with unwarranted all-way "Stop" sign controls is poor. In light of this, other measures, such as the installation of speed humps, have proven to be effective in lowering operating speeds, improving safety and are self-enforcing. Similar installations on nearby streets such as Springhurst Avenue and Close Avenue have proven successful in substantially reducing traffic speeds over the entire street and improving traffic safety.

Installation of speed humps on Tyndall Avenue from Springhurst Avenue to King Street West

Works staff recently conducted twenty-four automatic speed and volume surveys over a two-day period on the subject section of Tyndall Avenue. On average, Tyndall Avenue carries a combined total of 2,500 vehicles per day in both directions, with an operating speed (the rate of speed travelled at or under by 85% of all motorists) of 58 kilometres per hour and an average speed of 44 kilometres per hour. In order to address this speeding problem, Works staff have developed a traffic calming plan with the view of reducing operating speeds to range of 30 kilometres per hour.

The traffic calming proposal, as illustrated on the attached print of Drawing No. 421F-5300 dated November 25, 1998 consists of six speed humps with spacings between the speed humps of approximately 40 to 86.5 metres. A speed limit reduction to 30 kilometres per hour would also be appropriate. No impacts on parking are anticipated, no changes to parking regulations are required, and the effects on snow removal, street cleaning and garbage collection should be minimal.

As stipulated in the Speed Hump policy, once it has been determined that speed hump installation is technically warranted, a formal poll should be conducted of adults (18 years of age and older) of households directly abutting the affected section of street, and also households on side streets whose only access is from the street under consideration for speed hump installations. Under this policy, at least 60% of those responding should be in favour of the proposal to authorize implementation. Accordingly, staff will conduct a poll of residents and report on the poll results at the deputation meeting for the project.

The changes proposed to Tyndall Avenue, as described above, constitute an alteration to a public highway pursuant to the provisions 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 configuration must be advertised and subsequently by subject to a public hearing. In the interim, consultations with the emergency services agencies have been undertaken to ensure that the detailed design does not unduly hamper their respective operations.

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

Contact Name and Telephone Number:

Stephen Benjamin, Manager of Traffic Operations, District 1, 392-7773

Director

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