January 20, 1998
To: The Urban Environment and Development Committee
From: Commissioner of Transportation
Subject: Proposed Installation of Traffic Control Signals
Kipling Avenue and Genthorn Avenue/St. Benedict's Catholic School Driveway
Rexdale - Thistletown: Councillors Elizabeth Brown, Bruce Sinclair
Purpose:
To propose the installation of traffic control signals at the intersection of Kipling Avenue and Genthorn Avenue/St. Benedict's Catholic School Driveway, coincident with the removal of the existing split pedestrian crossover (PXO) located immediately to the south of the intersection.
Funding Sources:
The funds associated with new traffic signal installations are contained in the Transportation Department's Capital Budget Projections under Project No. C-TR031. The estimated cost of the installation of traffic control signals on Kipling Avenue and Genthorn Avenue/St. Benedict's Catholic School Driveway is $78,000.00 including the removal of the existing split PXO.
Recommendation:
It is recommended that;
(1) traffic control signals be approved on Kipling Avenue at Genthorn Avenue/St. Benedict's Catholic School Driveway;
(2) coincident with the traffic control signal installation, the existing split pedestrian crossover be removed;
(3) installation be subject to the approval of the 1998 Capital Works Program and the securing of appropriate financing; and
(4) the appropriate by-law(s) be amended accordingly.
Background:
This location was investigated at the request of St. Benedict's Catholic School. They expressed concern that the existing split PXO, which serves the local community and St. Benedict's Catholic School (elementary) and Percy Johnson Secondary School, both located to the immediate west, is unsafe for pedestrians and therefore should be replaced with traffic control signals.
Discussion:
Kipling Avenue in this vicinity is a four-lane arterial roadway with a posted speed limit of 50 km/h. At Genthorn Avenue there is a southbound left-turn lane, a northbound far-side bus bay, and a southbound near-side bus bay. There is a school bus lay-by immediately south of this location on the west side of Kipling Avenue. Split PXOs are located approximately 256 metres to the north of Genthorn Avenue at Hinton Road, and 215 metres to the south, at Snaresbrooke Drive.
There are approximately 462 pedestrians crossing Kipling Avenue at the subject split PXO during an eight-hour period of a typical weekday. We observed numerous turning vehicles in the immediate area creating potential conflicts with pedestrians.
We have evaluated the operational characteristics of this split PXO location according to the guidelines that were developed for the "Audit of Operational and Physical Suitability at Pedestrian Crossovers in Metropolitan Toronto". The results are as follows:
|
Standards or Criteria to be met
for Physical Suitability of a PXO |
Met/Not Met |
Comment |
|
Vehicle operating speed less than 60 km/h |
Not met |
85th percentile speed is greater than 60 km/h |
|
Not more than four lanes wide |
Met |
not applicable for split PXOs |
|
Traffic volume less than 35,000 vehicles per day |
Met |
25,000 vehicles per day |
|
No driveways or entrances nearby |
Not met |
2 driveways in immediate vicinity on the west side of Kipling Avenue |
|
No significant volume of turning movements which interfere with the PXO |
Not met |
high volume of turns in immediate area |
|
No visibility problems exist for either pedestrians or vehicles |
Met |
no visibility problems |
|
No loading zones (including TTC) in the immediate vicinity |
Not met |
northbound and southbound TTC stops |
|
Not less than 215 metres to another PXO or traffic control device |
Met |
split PXOs are located 256 metres to the north at Hinton Road and 215 metres to the south at Snaresbrooke Drive |
This location does not meet four of the criteria listed above, specifically the operating speed, driveways in immediate area, high volume of turning vehicles and loading zone locations. The Toronto Police Service have been asked to conduct speed enforcement on this section of Kipling Avenue.
We conducted a review of the Toronto Police Service collision records for the five-year period ending December 31, 1996. During this period there have been three collisions involving pedestrians crossing within the split PXO. In all three incidents, the pedestrians received minor injuries.
Kipling Avenue is a major arterial road which used to be under the jurisdiction of Metropolitan Toronto. The replacement of the PXO with traffic control signals will not have a significant impact on the effectiveness of this arterial link within the network of arterial roads. Furthermore the signals will provide benefits to all road users in the immediate area.
The installation of these traffic control signals is subject to the approval of the 1998 Capital Works Program, which is scheduled to be considered by City Council on April 15, 1998. Following approval of a group of traffic signal installations, tender documents will be prepared, and qualified electrical contractors will be asked to submit bids for this work. The results of the tender call will be reported to the Urban Environment and Development Committee at the earliest opportunity after April 15, 1998.
Conclusions:
The existing split PXO on Kipling Avenue, south of Genthorn Avenue is no longer operating in a satisfactory fashion. Traffic control signals should be installed to improve the operational safety of this location.
Contact Name and Telephone Number:
Bruce Zvaniga, Manager
North & West Traffic Regions
(416)392-8826
D. P. Floyd
Commissioner
Reviewed by Barry Gutteridge
Acting Executive Commissioner
RLP/dm;fc;jr
