April 24, 1998
To:The Urban Environment and Development Committee
From:Interim Functional Lead, Transportation
Subject:Proposed Northbound U-Turn Prohibition on Yonge Street, between The Esplanade and Front Street
Downtown: Councillors Olivia Chow, Kyle Rae
Purpose:
To prohibit northbound U-turns on Yonge Street, between The Esplanade and Front Street.
Funding Sources:
The funds for this work are contained in the Transportation Department's 1998 Current Budget Estimates. The estimated
cost to install the signs is $600.00.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1)northbound U-turns be prohibited on Yonge Street, between The Esplanade and Front Street; and
(2)the appropriate by-law(s) be amended accordingly.
Background:
At the request of staff of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), our Department reviewed the feasibility of prohibiting
northbound U-turns on Yonge Street, between The Esplanade and Front Street. The TTC is concerned about the high level
of U-turn activity on Yonge Street by motorists who are bypassing the various turn prohibitions at the intersection of
Yonge Street and The Esplanade.
Discussion:
Yonge Street near The Esplanade is a five-lane roadway (two through lanes in each direction and a southbound left-turn
lane) with a daily, two-way traffic volume of approximately 30,000 vehicles and a speed limit of 50 km/h. The Esplanade
is controlled by a "Stop" sign at Yonge Street and forms the east leg of the intersection, while a private driveway forms the
west leg of the intersection.
In 1993, east-west left-turn and through movements were prohibited at this intersection from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.,
Monday to Friday to address safety concerns. In 1997 a median island was installed at this intersection to physically
prohibit east-west left-turn and through movements and northbound left-turn movements.
We have observed westbound motorists on The Esplanade, destined for southbound Yonge Street, and northbound
motorists, destined for the private driveway on the west side of Yonge Street, bypassing these turn prohibitions and the
median island by completing U-turns on Yonge Street between The Esplanade and Front Street West, north of the median
island.
During the busiest eight-hour period of a typical weekday, 171 northbound-to-southbound U-turns were made on Yonge
Street, between The Esplanade and Front Street. Of the 171 U-turns, 99 turns were made by westbound motorists who first
made a right turn from The Esplanade and then a U-turn just north of The Esplanade. The remaining 72 turns were made by
northbound motorists. The vast majority of U-turns were made just north of the median island.
Unfortunately collision records since the median island has been installed are not available at this time. However, our field
observations revealed a number of vehicular conflicts in this area. While waiting on Yonge Street for an acceptable gap in
traffic to make their U-turn, northbound vehicles usually occupy a through lane. Yonge Street is reduced to one lane in the
northbound direction, resulting in congestion and an increase in the potential for rear-end and sideswipe type collisions.
The prohibition of northbound U-turns at this location would be a preventive safety measure which can be implemented
with minimal impacts on traffic patterns in this area.
Conclusions:
The prohibition of northbound U-turns on Yonge Street, between The Esplanade and Front Street, will reduce the potential
for collisions and alleviate congestion created by U-turning vehicles, without significant impacts on the traffic patterns in
this area.
Contact Name:
Jacqueline White, Acting Manager
Central Traffic Region
416-397-5021
D. P. Floyd
Interim Functional Lead, Transportation
Reviewed by Barry Gutteridge
Commissioner, Works and Emergency Services
DB/cag;fc
