August 17, 1998
To:Urban Environment and Development Committee
From:General Manager, Transportation Services
Subject:Traffic Regulations At The Intersection Of Kingston Road, Eastern Avenue and Queen Street East
East Toronto - Councillors Sandra Bussin, Tom Jakobek
Purpose:
To introduce the traffic regulations required to operate the reconstructed signalized intersection of Kingston Road, the
Eastern Avenue extension, and Queen Street East in a safe and efficient manner.
Funding Sources:
The funds associated with the installation of appropriate signs are contained in the Works and Emergency Services
Department's 1998 Capital Budget. The estimated cost of installing the appropriate signs and related elements is $2,000.00.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1)the current traffic regulations identified in Appendix 1 of this report be rescinded;
(2)the traffic regulations identified in Appendix 2 of this report be enacted; and
(3)the appropriate by-law(s) be amended accordingly.
Background:
Numerous road improvements are associated with the redevelopment of the Greenwood Racetrack site, in the area bounded
by Lake Shore Boulevard East, Woodbine Avenue, Queen Street East, Eastern Avenue and Coxwell Avenue. In order to
improve traffic flow at the northwest corner of the site, an extension of Eastern Avenue was previously approved, to
connect directly to Kingston Road at the south side of Queen Street East and eliminate the current jogged configuration.
Therefore the Kingston Road at Queen Street East intersection has been converted from a "T" intersection to a "cross"
configuration.
Discussion:
Because of the realignment of Eastern Avenue and a redesign of the intersection, new or revised traffic regulations are
required, most of a housekeeping nature. These measures were always contemplated throughout the original studies and
analyses undertaken for this project. Each regulation is discussed briefly below:
a)Northbound No Left Turn: Eastern Avenue to Queen Street East.
Because of the skewed alignment of Kingston Road, the sight lines for northbound and southbound motorists to observe
each other approaching the intersection are poor. Therefore the northbound left-turn manoeuvre would be hazardous, and
should be prohibited at all times. There is a convenient alternate route for this northbound left-turn movement via the
Coxwell Avenue and Queen Street East intersection.
The southbound left-turn manoeuvre is presently prohibited at all times. This regulation should be retained because the
median lane of southbound Kingston Road will be reserved for streetcars only, and, as mentioned earlier, Kingston Road
intersects Queen Street East at a skewed angle.
b)Rescind Westbound No Left Turn: Eastern Avenue to Greenwood Raceway.
The previous left-turn prohibition from the soon-to-be-abandoned section of Eastern Avenue to the Greenwood Raceway is
redundant and should be rescinded.
c)Rescind Pedestrian Crossing Prohibition: West Leg of Queen Street East at Kingston Road.
One operational characteristic which is changed with the conversion from a "T" intersection to a "cross" is the need for two
lanes of southbound Kingston Road traffic to turn right onto Queen Street East at the same time. In future there will be a
conventional curb lane southbound right turn for general traffic.
For pedestrian safety, pedestrian crossing activity was prohibited on the west leg of the intersection across the dual right
turn. However, a normal pedestrian crosswalk is the preferred design once the conventional southbound right turn is
instituted. Furthermore westbound Toronto Transit Commission stops will be relocated to the west leg of the intersection in
1998, and eastbound stops will be relocated there in 1999, resulting in a significant demand for a crosswalk at this location.
d)Reserved Lane for Southbound Streetcars: Kingston Road at Queen Street East.
In order to operate the southbound approach of this intersection safely and efficiently, southbound streetcars (which have to
turn right) should have their own exclusive lane, and two lanes of general traffic are required between the curb and the
streetcar tracks. The north leg of Kingston Road has been widened to accommodate a 45 metre reserved median streetcar
lane. The legal designation of this exclusive streetcar lane will help the general public understand the safe operation of the
southbound approach, and will provide optimal efficiency for streetcar operations.
e)Rescind A Redundant Parking Regulation: Kingston Road north of Queen Street East.
At present there is a by-law which allows for parking to be prohibited on both sides of Kingston Road, from Queen Street
East to Lark Street, between 12:00 noon and 6:00 p.m., on Greenwood Racetrack race days. This by-law is obviously
redundant now.
f)Parking and Stopping Regulations: Eastern Avenue between Coxwell Avenue and Queen Street East.
At the present time parking is prohibited at all times on both sides of Eastern Avenue in this area, and stopping of vehicles
is prohibited during weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. on the north side of the street, and from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
on the south side.
Because of the curvature of the newly constructed four lane Eastern Avenue extension; the left-turn movements which will
be generated by the new accesses to the parking facilities on both sides of Eastern Avenue; the abundance of off-street
parking provided on the south side of the road for the teletheatre; and the pedestrian crossing desire line between the
off-street parking and the teletheatre, it is prudent for public safety to institute a no stopping any time regulation on both
sides of Eastern Avenue, between Coxwell Avenue and Queen Street East, to be in effect at all times.
g)Parking, Standing and Stopping Regulations: Queen Street East between Kingston Road and the remnant portion of
Eastern Avenue.
At the present time the following parking regulations are in effect on this short section of Queen Street East:
North Side:- no parking any time
- no stopping weekdays - 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
- 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
South Side:- no standing any time
- no stopping weekdays - 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
- 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
With the opening of the Eastern Avenue extension, traffic volumes on this section of Queen Street East will decrease
significantly. Therefore the stopping prohibition can be amended to be contiguous with adjacent sections of Queen Street
East, namely prohibiting weekday stopping on the north side between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., and on the south side
between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. only. It is anticipated that, in 1999, streetcar platforms will be constructed on this section
of Queen Street East, for both eastbound and westbound routes, plus a widening on the south side of Queen Street East to
accommodate a streetcar by-pass lane. A no stopping any time regulation would be appropriate on the north side of the
street once the platforms are in place, the exact limits of which can be determined as part of the design process.
The no standing any time regulation on the south side of Queen Street East should be retained in order to accommodate
special taxi pick up arrangements at the teletheatre. As a condition of development, the teletheatre is required to provide an
off-street taxi cab stand in the parking lot at the southwest corner of the building. There is a direct telephone link required
between the teletheatre and the taxi cab stand so that customers can call for a taxi, and be picked up at the front entrance of
the building on the south side of Queen Street East.
Because of the realignment of Eastern Avenue, housekeeping by-law amendments are required to address all parking
regulations on the subject section of Queen Street East. The proposed amendments have been discussed with staff of TTC,
who generally concur with the planned modifications.
Both ward councillors have been advised of these recommendations.
Conclusions:
The proposed changes to traffic regulations at the Kingston Road at Queen Street East at Eastern Avenue intersection are
recommended in order to operate the reconstructed intersection in a safe and efficient manner.
Contact Names and Telephone Numbers:
Peter Hillier, Senior ManagerTim Laspa
Traffic RegionsTransportation Planner
(416) 392-5348(416) 392-7711
David C. Kaufman
General Manager, Transportation Services
Barry H. Gutteridge
Commissioner, Works and Emergency Services
PKH/jr
APPENDIX 1
REGULATIONS TO BE RESCINDED
Schedule VI of Metropolitan Uniform Traffic By-law
Prohibited Pedestrian Crossings
