May 20, 1998

 To:Urban Environment Development Committee

 From:Interim Functional Lead, Transportation

 Subject:Non-Concurrence with the Proposed Installation of Traffic Control Signals on Cherry Street at Commissioners Street

 Don-River:Councillors Jack Layton, Pam McConnell

  Purpose:

 To respond to a request from The Toronto Community Council to study the feasibility of installing traffic control signals at the intersection of Cherry Street and Commissioners Street.

 Recommendations:

 It is recommended that this report be received and forwarded to Toronto Community Council for information.

 Background:

 At its meeting on February 18, 1998, The Toronto Community Council requested that the Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services report on the provision of traffic control signals at the intersection of Cherry Street and Commissioners Street.

 Discussion:

 Cherry Street, in the vicinity of Commissioners Street, generally operates as a two-lane roadway with a daily, two-way traffic volume of approximately 9,500 vehicles and a speed limit of 50 km/h. Commissioners Street forms the east leg, while a private driveway forms the west leg of this intersection. A pedestrian crossover (PXO) is located on the south leg of this intersection. The east-west approaches to this intersection are controlled by a "Stop" signs.

 Based on an eight-hour traffic count conducted at this intersection on a typical weekday, the technical warrants for the installation of traffic control signals are satisfied to the following extent:

 Warrant 1:Minimum Vehicular Delay83 per cent.;

Warrant 2:Delay to Cross Traffic62 per cent.;

Warrant 3Collision Hazard27 per cent.

 To meet the technical warrants for the installation of traffic control signals, one of the "Minimum Vehicular Volume" or "Delay to Cross Traffic" warrants must be 100 per cent. satisfied or any two of the three warrants must be at least 80 per cent. satisfied. Based on the above-noted results, the installation of traffic control signals is not warranted at this intersection at this time.

 The "Collision Hazard" warrant is based on the number of collisions potentially preventable by the installation of traffic control signals. Collision statistics provided by the Toronto Police Service for the three-year period ending December 31, 1996 disclosed that eight collisions had occurred at this intersection. None of the eight collisions involved a pedestrian. Further analysis revealed that four of these eight collisions were potentially preventable by the installation of traffic control signals. Also, two of the collisions involved cyclists. The details of the two collisions involving cyclists are as follows:

 !April 25, 1996 - A westbound left-turning vehicle failed to yield and collided with a northbound through cyclist. The driver of the westbound vehicle was charged. No details are available pertaining to any possible injuries sustained by the cyclist. This collision was potentially preventable by the installation of traffic control signals; and

 !July 31, 1996 - A westbound right-turning truck collided with a cyclist on the north-east corner of the intersection. The cyclist sustained fatal injuries. The driver of the truck was not charged. This collision was not potentially preventable by the installation of traffic control signals.

 An audit of the physical suitability of the PXO at this intersection did not reveal any characteristics which would make this location unsuitable for a PXO. Furthermore, staff of the former City of Toronto report that the PXO has been operating satisfactorily since it was installed in 1984. Based on this information, we do not recommend replacing the existing PXO with traffic control signals at this time.

 In previous years, staff reviewed the physical characteristics of this area in order to improve the cycling environment. Based on this review, the Cycling Committee is proposing to relocate the bicycle path in this area during the summer of 1998 contingent upon plans to dismantle the Gardiner Expressway East. Improvements to directional and advisory signage for cyclists using the bicycle path will be implemented accordingly. As a result of the previous review of this area, staff concluded that no improvements to the intersection of Cherry Street and Commissioners Street are required at this time.

 Furthermore, after reviewing the potential impacts of redevelopment and reconstruction in this area, staff have concluded that traffic control signals will not likely be required at the Cherry Street and Commissioners Street intersection in the next few years.

Conclusions:

 The installation of traffic control signals is not warranted at the intersection of Cherry Street and Commissioners Street at this time.

 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