May 20, 1998

  To:Urban Environment and Development Committee

 From:Interim Functional Lead, Transportation

 Subject:Traffic Control Signal Operation

Jane Street and Annette Street/Baby Point Road

 York-Humber: Councillors Frances Nunziata, Bill Saundercook

 Purpose:

 To respond to a request to review the existing signal time provided for pedestrians to cross Jane Street at Annette Street/Baby Point Road.

 Funding Sources:

 Not applicable.

 Recommendations:

 It is recommended that this report be received for information.

 Background:

 At its meeting of April 20, 1998, The Urban Environment and Development Committee had before it a communication (April 3, 1998) from Councillor Frances Nunziata, York-Humber, submitting correspondence relating to the signalized intersection of Jane Street and Annette Street/Baby Point Road; advising that she does not concur with the assessment of the Transportation Department embodied in the attached correspondence, regarding the safety of pedestrians crossing Jane Street at Annette Street/Baby Point Road.

 The Urban Environment and Development Committee requested that Transportation Division staff review the operation of the traffic signals on Jane Street at Annette Street/Baby Point Road, to determine whether the existing signal time provided for pedestrians to cross Jane Street is acceptable and submit a report thereon.

Discussion:

 The intersection of Jane Street and Annette Street/Baby Point Road is a "near-right" offset intersection and both legs are included under traffic signal control. The offset distance between Annette Street and Baby Point Road is approximately 20 metres. Northbound Jane Street motorists are required to stop on the south side of Annette Street and southbound motorists on Jane Street are required to stop on the north side of Baby Point Road.

 In order to improve the public safety of this intersection, several changes were made to the traffic control signal operation. In July, 1996, the flashing "Helping Hand" feature was installed. The purpose of the flashing "Helping Hand" display is to warn pedestrians who have entered the crosswalk that the green signal is about to end but they have sufficient time to complete their crossing in comfort. This display also warns pedestrians who have not entered the roadway that they should not enter and should wait until the next "walk" display. The combination of the "walk" and "flashing don't walk" displays are equivalent to the traffic signal green time.

 In November, 1996 we modified the traffic signal operation from a two-phase operation to a three-phase operation and relocated the north side crosswalk from the north side of Baby Point Road to the north side of Annette Street. This has improved the visibility of pedestrians crossing Jane Street and reduced the potential for collisions involving pedestrians and westbound right-turning motorists.

The green time provided for pedestrians to cross Jane Street, which is approximately 16 metres wide at its widest point, is 17 seconds. This equates to a walk speed of 0.94 metres per second. The standard walk speed used when determining minimum pedestrian crossing times is 1.2 metres per second, which is the average walking speed for the majority of adults. In addition, at this location 8 seconds are provided during the clearance interval (amber and all-red indications) for added comfort.

 Notwithstanding the relatively comfortable crossing time provided, our investigation indicated that the time provided for pedestrians to cross Jane Street could be slightly increased by decreasing the green time for motorists on Jane Street , during all times of the day, without an undue reduction in overall intersection performance. This change was made during the week of May 25,1998.

 The impacts of this timing modification are tolerable from an overall intersection capacity perspective. However, the reallocation of any additional time from the Jane Street phase to the Annette Street phase will result in increased delays on Jane Street and a reduction in the level of service provided.

 Conclusions:

 The green time provided for pedestrians to cross Jane Street has been increased to provide a more comfortable walking speed during all periods of the day.

 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 & Emergency Services