April 24, 1998
To:The Urban Environment and Development Committee
From:Interim Functional Lead, Transportation
Subject:Proposed Southbound Right-Turn-On-Red Prohibition at Bloor Street West and Symington Avenue
Davenport: Councillors Betty Disero, Dennis Fotinos
High Park: Councillors Chris Korwin-Kuczynski, David Miller
Purpose:
To improve the pedestrian crossing environment at the intersection of Bloor Street West and Symington Avenue.
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 $500.00.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1)southbound right-turns-on-red be prohibited at all times at the intersection of Bloor Street West and Symington
Avenue; and
(2)the appropriate by-law(s) be amended accordingly.
Background:
Our Department reviewed the feasibility of improving the pedestrian crossing environment for pedestrians crossing
Symington Avenue at Bloor Street West.
Discussion:
The intersection of Bloor Street West and Symington Avenue/Sterling Road is controlled by traffic signals. Symington
Avenue forms the north leg of a "near-right" offset intersection. During the busiest eight-hour period of a typical weekday
approximately 500 pedestrians cross the north leg of the intersection while approximately 1200 southbound right turns are
made at this intersection during the same time periods.
Our field observations at this intersection revealed that southbound motorists routinely encroach into the pedestrian
crosswalk on the north leg of this intersection while making a right turn on a red signal indication. Sightlines between
approaching pedestrians and southbound right-turning motorists are reduced by a building located close to the north-west
corner of this intersection. This tends to encourage the encroachment of vehicles into the crosswalk which creates a hazard
for pedestrians crossing the north leg of the intersection.
A review of Toronto Police Service collision records over a five-year period ending December 31, 1996 revealed that four
collisions, involving pedestrians and southbound right-turning motorists on a red signal indication, had occurred at this
intersection. All collisions involved pedestrians crossing from the west side to the east side of the north leg of the
intersection. Further analysis did not reveal a pattern with respect to the times of the collisions.
In order to reduce conflicts between southbound right-turning motorists and pedestrians crossing on the north leg of the
intersection, it is recommended that southbound right-turns-on-red be prohibited at all times. There is sufficient intersection
capacity to accommodate this modification.
Conclusions:
The prohibition of southbound right-turns-on-red will improve the pedestrian crossing environment at the intersection of
Bloor Street West and Symington Avenue.
Contact Name:
Jacqueline White, Acting Manager
Central Traffic Region
416-397-5021
D.P. Floyd
Interim Functional Lead, Transportation
Barry Gutteridge
Commissioner, Works and Emergency Services
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