April 24, 1998

TO:Urban Environment and Development Committee

FROM:Interim Functional Lead, Transportation

SUBJECT:ROAD MODIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENTS: VARIOUS LOCATIONS

WARD:Councillors Irene Jones and Blake Kinahan, Ward 2 - Queensway

Councillors Elizabeth Brown and Bruce Sinclair, Ward 5- Rexdale-Thistletown

Councillors Howard Moscoe and Mike Feldman, Ward 8 - North York Spadina

Councillors Brian Ashton and Gerry Altobello, Ward 13 - Scarborough Bluffs

Councillors Norm Kelly and Mike Tzekas, Ward 14 - Scarborough Wexford

Councillors Lorenzo Berardinetti and Brad Duguid, Ward 15 -

Scarborough City Centre

Councillors Frank Faubert and Ron Moeser, Ward 16 - Scarborough Highland Creek

Purpose:

The purpose of this report is:

(1)to obtain Council authority to construct various development related road modifications on City of Toronto arterial roads and to advertise the required construction By-law; and

(2)to obtain approval to amend the appropriate By-laws.

Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

Funding for these road modifications is the responsibility of the developers.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)approval be given to proceed with the extension of the southbound traffic island on Islington Avenue, north of Albion Road;

(a)northbound and eastbound left turns at the Islington Avenue access to 1104 and 1130 Albion Road be prohibited at all times;

(b)southbound and eastbound left turns at the westerly Albion Road access to 1104 and 1130 Albion Road, located 140 metres west of Islington Avenue, be prohibited at all times;

(c)westbound right turns at the westerly Albion Road access to 1104 and 1130 Albion Road, located 140 metres west of Islington Avenue, be prohibited at all times;

(2)approval be given to proceed with modifications to the concrete centre median on Steeles Avenue West, west of Alness Street, to provide for an eastbound left-turn lane;

(3)subject to the receipt of funds from the developer, approval be given to proceed with the construction of development entrances at 800 Warden Avenue, south of Civic Road; the construction of concrete centre medians; the construction of a southbound right-turn lane on Warden Avenue, approximately 215 metres south of Civic Road; and upon completion of all road works associated with the Wal-Mart Store development at 800 Warden Avenue:

(a)traffic control signals be approved on Warden Avenue at the central driveway to 800 Warden Avenue (Wal-Mart Store) on the west side and the shared driveway between 781 Warden Avenue (Embers Restaurant) and 787 Warden Avenue on the east side;

(b)northbound left turns be prohibited at all times at the northerly access to 800 Warden Avenue, 190 metres south of Eglinton Avenue East;

(c)eastbound left turns be prohibited at all times at the northerly access to 800 Warden Avenue, 190 metres south of Eglinton Avenue East;

(4)approval be given to proceed with the extension of the southbound traffic island on Morningside Avenue, north of Ellesmere Road;

(5)subject to the receipt of funds from the developer, approval be given to proceed with the construction of a development entrance at 740 Ellesmere Road; the construction of an eastbound right-turn lane on Ellesmere Road at Kennedy Road; the construction of a southbound right-turn lane on Warden Avenue at Ellesmere Road; and upon completion of all road works associated with the residential/retail development at 740 Ellesmere Road:

(a)southbound left turns be prohibited at all times at the access to 740 Ellesmere Road, 198 metres east of Birchmount Road;

(b)eastbound left turns be prohibited at all times at the access to 740 Ellesmere Road, 198 metres east of Birchmount Road;

(6)subject to the receipt of funds from the developer, approval be given to proceed with:

(a)the reconstruction of the concrete centre median on The Queensway, west of The West Mall, to provide a westbound left-turn lane into the Queens Walk Developments;

(b)the widening of south side of The Queensway, west of The West Mall, to provide an eastbound right-turn lane into the Queens Walk Development;

(c)installation of traffic control signals at the intersection of The Queensway and the entrance to the Queens Walk Development, west of The West Mall; and

(d)the modification of the centre median on The West Mall, south of The Queensway, for the extension of the northbound left-turn lane;

(7)the appropriate by-law(s) be amended accordingly; and

(8)the introduction of any necessary Bills be authorized.

Background and Discussion:

As a condition of approving developments abutting City of Toronto arterial roads and allowing access to them, developers are required to fund road modifications to accommodate the traffic generated by their new developments. Funds for the design, construction, supervision and administration of this work have been received or are about to be received from the proponents in the form of a Letter of Credit or certified cheque. Details of the road modifications required at each location are provided in Table No. 1 and are briefly discussed below.

1104 and 1130 Albion Road (at Islington Avenue):

As a condition of approving a bank and donut shop with a drive-through development, the developer (Kaylan Properties Ltd.) is required to fund the extension of the southbound traffic island on Islington Avenue by 15 metres to the north. This modification is necessary to limit the proposed development access to in-right/out-right movements.

1900 Steeles Avenue West (west of Alness Street):

To accommodate the property owner=s request to construct modifications to the concrete centre median on Steeles Avenue West to provide for an eastbound left turn lane into their property, the owner has agreed to fund all costs associated with this median modification.

800 Warden Avenue (south of Eglinton Avenue):

To accommodate the Vernice Developments Limited development at 800 Warden Avenue (formerly Sears Canada Inc. Site) a widening of Warden Avenue is required. The widening allows for a southbound right turn lane and centre traffic islands. The centre traffic islands are required to facilitate the installation of new traffic control signals.

In order to provide appropriate right-of-way control on Warden Avenue and safe access to the Wal-Mart store proposed at 800 Warden Avenue, traffic control signals are required at the central driveway to 800 Warden Avenue on the west side and the shared driveway between 781 Warden Avenue (Embers Restaurant) and 787 Warden Avenue on the east side. In addition, the northerly access must be restricted to right-in/right-out movements by design, by-law and signage.

Warden Avenue in the vicinity of 800 Warden Avenue is a five-lane urban arterial roadway. An eight hour traffic control signal warrant study was conducted based on projected traffic volumes generated by the development. The study results are listed below:

Either Warrant 1 or Warrant 2 should be 100 percent satisfied or two warrants should be 80 percent satisfied to meet the minimum technical requirements for the installation of traffic control signals.

3100 Ellesmere Road (at Morningside Avenue):

The existing Petro Canada gas station located on the northwest corner of Ellesmere Road and Morningside Avenue is redeveloping to permit the addition of a car wash, convenience store and drive-through restaurant to the existing gas station. To accommodate a new access and new site circulation patterns, a 10 metre extension of the southbound traffic on Morningside Avenue is necessary to physically restrict the access to in-right/out-right movements.

740 Ellesmere Road (east of Birchmount Road)

As a condition of approval of Phases 1 and 2a of the Mondeo Development Inc. development at 740 Ellesmere Road, the developer (Mondeo Development Inc.) is required to fund the following road modifications: the widening of Ellesmere Road at Kennedy Road to provide an eastbound right-turn lane; the widening of Warden Avenue at Ellesmere Road to provide a southbound right-turn lane; and the construction of a new development access on the north side of Ellesmere Road, east of Birchmount Road.

Ellesmere Road in the vicinity of 740 Ellesmere Road is a five-lane urban arterial roadway. Due to the traffic volumes on Ellesmere Road and the use of the centre left-turn lane by motorists turning left at Birchmount Road, Mondeo Drive and the various properties on the south side of Ellesmere Road, the driveway to 740 Ellesmere Road must be restricted to right-in/right-out movements by design, by-law and signage.

Queens Walk Development on The Queensway (west of The West Mall)

As a condition of site plan approval for this development, the developer is required and has agreed to fund the reconstruction of the centre median to provide a 130 metre long westbound left-turn lane on The Queensway at the entrance to the property; widening of the south side of The Queensway to provide a 40 metre long eastbound right-turn lane at the entrance to the property; installation of traffic control signals on The Queensway at the entrance to the property; and the extension of northbound left-turn lane on The West Mall south of The Queensway.

Pedestrian and Cycling Issues:

In requiring that road modifications are made in order to accommodate traffic generated by new developments, pedestrian and cycling issues are always taken into consideration. In cases where road widenings are required, efforts are made to ensure that sufficient pedestrian walking times are provided at all signalized intersections. In addition to requiring road modifications, developers are also required to improve adjacent boulevards through streetscape improvements such as tree and sod planting and the provision of transit shelters. In the case of the road modifications described in this report, all proposals conform with the Department=s guidelines for the accommodation of pedestrians and cyclists.

Scope of Construction:

To construct the above modifications the following work will be undertaken:

(a)removal and reconstruction of concrete curbs, gutter, sidewalks and medians;

(b)construction of concrete road base and asphalt pavement;

(c)construction of concrete medians;

(d)removal and reconstruction of catch basins and connections;

(e)installation of underground traffic signals, ducts, handwells and pole bases;

(f)alteration of traffic control devices;

(g)planting of trees; and

(h)utility relocations.

These modifications have been developed using current department standards for cyclists and pedestrians and no compromises have been made with respect to the space allocated to these users.

Conclusions:

As a condition of approval of development abutting City of Toronto arterial roads, various modifications are required to the road system. All costs will be borne by the developers.

Contact Name and Telephone Number:

K. P. Llewellyn-Thomas,

Manager, Project Planning and Design

Telephone - 392-8590, Fax - 392-4426

D.P. Floyd,

Interim Functional Lead, Transportation

Reviewed by Barry Gutteridge

Commissioner, Works and Emergency Services

 FN/jc