July 28, 1998
To:Urban Environment and Development Committee
From:General Manager, Transportation Services
Subject:Proposed Installation of Traffic Control Signals Ellesmere Road and Dolly Varden Boulevard Scarborough City
Centre; Councillors Lorenzo Berardinetti, Brad Duguid
Purpose:
To obtain approval for the installation of traffic control signals at the intersection of Ellesmere Road and Dolly Varden
Boulevard.
Funding Sources:
The funds associated with new traffic signal installations are contained in the Transportation Department's Proposed
Capital Program under Project No. C-TR031. In 1998, $1.6 million has been allotted 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 Ellesmere Road and Dolly Varden Boulevard is $65,000.00.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1)traffic control signals be approved on Ellesmere Road at Dolly Varden Boulevard, subject to the availability of funds;
(2)coincident with the traffic control signal installation, southbound left turns be prohibited at all times from the westerly
driveway at No. 2040/2050 Ellesmere Road; and
(3)the appropriate by-law(s) be amended accordingly.
Background:
This location was investigated in response to a request from a member of the public for pedestrian crossing protection on
Ellesmere Road at Dolly Varden Boulevard.
Discussion:
Ellesmere Road in this vicinity is a major five-lane arterial roadway with a posted speed limit of 60 km/h and a two-way 24
hour traffic volume of approximately 27,500 vehicles. Dolly Varden Boulevard, a local road, forms a "T" intersection on
the south side of Ellesmere Road. At Dolly Varden Boulevard there is a westbound left-turn lane, a westbound far-side bus
bay, and an eastbound near-side bus bay. The Centennial Community Centre, Centennial Arena and Confederation Park are
located south of Ellesmere Road immediately west of Dolly Varden Boulevard.
A pedestrian crossover (PXO) warrant study revealed that 200 pedestrians crossed Ellesmere Road at this location in an
eight-hour study period. Of these 200 pedestrians, 130 were delayed more than ten seconds before they could complete
their crossing. Based on this information, both pedestrian volume and pedestrian delay warrants are 100 per cent satisfied.
We have evaluated the operational characteristics of a proposed PXO according to the guidelines that were developed for
the "Audit of Operational and Physical Suitability at Pedestrian Crossovers in Metropolitan Toronto". The results are as
follows:
| Standards or Criteria to be met for Physical Suitability of a
PXO |
Met/Not Met |
Comments |
| Vehicle operating speed less than 60 km/h |
Not met |
85th percentile speed is greater than 60 km/h |
| Not more than four lanes wide |
Not met |
five lanes wide |
| Traffic volume less than 35,000 vehicles per day |
Met |
27,500 vehicles per day |
| No driveways or entrances nearby |
Not met |
westerly driveway at No.2040/2050 Ellesmere |
| No significant volume of turning movements which interfere
with the PXO |
Not met |
high volume of turns in the immediate area |
| No visibility problems exist for either pedestrians or vehicles |
Met |
no visibility problems |
| No loading zones (including TTC) in the immediate vicinity |
Not met |
eastbound and westbound TTC stops |
| Not less than 215 metres to another PXO or traffic control
device |
Met |
traffic control signals are located 520 m to the west at Bellamy
Road and 235 m to the east at Markham Road |
This location does not meet five of the criteria listed above, specifically the operating speed, number of lanes, presence of
driveways, high volume of turning vehicles and loading zone locations. In addition, we conducted a review of the Toronto
Police Service collision records for the five-year period ending December 31, 1996. During this period, there were no
collisions involving pedestrians.
Given the foregoing prevailing conditions, a pedestrian crossover cannot be expected to perform in a satisfactory fashion at
this location. Accordingly, traffic control signals would provide the best form of crossing control and are recommended for
this location.
No. 2040/2050 Ellesmere Road is an industrial complex located on the north side of Ellesmere Road directly opposite
Dolly Varden Boulevard. Three driveways service the complex. The driveways are located 96 metres east, 38 metres east
and 12 metres west of Dolly Varden Boulevard. It is not practical to control the closest driveway with the proposed traffic
control signals because this would result in a fully signalized offset intersection with numerous vehicle conflicts and
hazards. Therefore, installing traffic control signals at the "T" intersection of Ellesmere Road and Dolly Varden Boulevard
is the best alternative.
If traffic control signals were installed at Dolly Varden Boulevard, the southbound left-turn movements from the closest
driveway, 12 metres to the west, would cause numerous vehicle conflicts resulting in hazards to the public. Therefore, in
order to provide optimal safety at the proposed traffic control signals, southbound left turns from the westerly driveway
should be prohibited at all times. Although the owner of the industrial complex has expressed concern about the loss of the
existing movement at the westerly driveway, he has indicated that he will not oppose the installation of traffic control
signals if our Department agrees to rescind the prohibition in the event his driveway is reconstructed to align with Dolly
Varden Boulevard in the future. Our Department agrees that this condition is reasonable.
Both ward councillors offices have reserved judgement with respect to this proposed installation of traffic control signals.
Conclusions:
The installation of a PXO is warranted on Ellesmere Road at Dolly Varden Boulevard. However, because this location fails
to meet the "environmental standards" for the installation of a PXO, traffic control signals will potentially provide for a
safer crossing environment and should be installed at this location.
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/fc;jr
