August 6, 1998
To:Urban Environment and Development Committee
From:General Manager, Transportation Services
Subject:Proposed Installation of Traffic Control Signals
Overlea Boulevard and the East York Town Centre
East York; Councillors Case Ootes, Michael Prue
Purpose:
To obtain approval for the installation of traffic control signals at the intersection of Overlea
Boulevard and the easterly entrance to the East York Town Centre at No.45 Overlea
Boulevard.
Funding Sources:
The funds associated with new traffic signal installations are contained in the Works and
Emergency Services Capital Program under Project No C-TR031. In 1998, $1.6 million has
been allocated for new traffic control signal installations. These funds have been fully
committed already through the approvals of 21 new signal installations. Therefore, unless
additional funding is identified in 1998, new signal approvals for the balance of 1998 will be
placed on a priority list for 1999 and await approval of the appropriate budget item in the
1999 Capital Budget. The estimated cost of the installation of traffic control signals at this
location is $127,300.00.
Recommendation:
It is recommended that traffic control signals be approved on Overlea Boulevard and the
easterly entrance to the East York Town Centre, subject to the availability of funds.
Background:
This location was investigated in response to several requests from members of the public
for pedestrian crossing protection in the vicinity of the East York Town Centre at No.45
Overlea Boulevard.
Discussion:
Overlea Boulevard is a four-lane arterial roadway with a posted speed limit of 50 km/h. A
"T" intersection is formed with the easterly driveway to the East York Town Centre on the
south side of Overlea Boulevard. At the easterly entrance to the East York Town Centre
there is a westbound left-turn lane, a westbound far-side bus stop and an eastbound far-side
bus stop. Adjacent traffic control signals are located approximately 380 metres to the west at
Thorncliffe Park Drive west intersection and 180 metres to the east at Thorncliffe Park
Drive east intersection.
An eight hour traffic control signal warrant study was conducted and revealed that traffic
control signals are technically warranted. The results are listed below:
| Warrant |
Compliance |
| Minimum Vehicular Volume |
55 per cent. |
| Delay to Cross Traffic |
100 per cent. |
| Collision Hazard |
20 per cent. |
For the traffic control signal warrants to be satisfied, 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. The "Collision Hazard" warrant is
based on the number of collisions that occurred at the intersection in a three-year period
which were potentially preventable by the installation of traffic control signals. Collision
statistics provided by the Toronto Police Service indicate three collisions occurred over a
three-year period from January 1, 1994 to December 31, 1996 which were potentially
preventable by the installation of traffic control signals. One of these collisions involved a
pedestrian. Based on the above information, the technical warrants for the installation of
traffic control signals are met.
As part of the installation of traffic control signals, adjustments to curbs and gutters of the
existing centre median island are required to accommodate north-south pedestrian crossings
and eliminate the need for pedestrians to walk over the median. In addition, in order to
encourage pedestrians to cross at the traffic control signals, it is proposed to remove the
existing asphalt walkway within the median as well as the concrete step and sidewalk within
the south side boulevard area located approximately 30 metres west of the intersection.
These civil improvements are estimated to cost approximately $59,000.00 and these
expenses are included within the overall cost of installing these signals, estimated at
$127,300.00.
Network performance analysis has confirmed that the installation of traffic control signals
would not have a significant impact on the effectiveness of this arterial road within the
network of arterial roads. Furthermore, the traffic control signals would provide benefits to
all road users in the immediate area.
Staff have contacted the ward Councillors and both have voiced their support for the
proposed installation of traffic control signals.
Conclusions:
The installation of traffic control signals on Overlea Boulevard at the easterly entrance to the
East York Town Centre are technically warranted and would provide benefits to all road
users in the immediate area. In 1998, $1.6 million has been allocated for new traffic control
signal installation. Twenty-one traffic control signals have been approved so far in 1998,
which fully commits all these funds. Therefore, unless additional funding is identified in
1998, the installation of newly approved traffic control signals will have to await approval
of the appropriate budget item in the 1999 Capital Budget.
Contact Name and Telephone Number:
Martin D. Maguire
Acting Manager, East Traffic Region
(416) 392-5243
David C. Kaufman
General Manager, Transportation Services
Barry H. Gutteridge
Commissioner, Works and Emergency Services
RAN/dmb/wo
