August 7, 1998

To:The Urban Environment and Development Committee

From:General Manager, Transportation Services

Subject:Proposed Introduction of Turn Prohibition on Yonge Street at the Access to No. 6365 Yonge Street North York Centre: Councillors John Filion, Norm Gardner

Purpose:

To prohibit southbound left turns and northbound right turns from Yonge Street to the access to No. 6365 Yonge Street.

Funding Sources:

The cost of the installation of the appropriate signage is the responsibility of the property owner.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)southbound left turns from Yonge Street to the access to No. 6365 Yonge Street be prohibited at all times;

(2)northbound right turns from Yonge Street to the access to No. 6365 Yonge Street be prohibited at all times; and

(3)the appropriate by-law(s) be amended accordingly.

Background:

As a condition of site plan approval, the Developer agreed to operate the access to No. 6365 Yonge Street as a one-way outbound (westbound) operation only. Southbound left turns and northbound right turns to this access from Yonge Street would be prohibited by by-law and the installation of appropriate signage.

Discussion:

Yonge Street in this vicinity is a six-lane arterial roadway, with a northbound left-turn lane and a posted speed limit of 50 km/h. The subject property on the east side of Yonge Street at No. 6365 is being redeveloped to construct a three-story mixed-use building to contain retail, offices and residential units. This property has one access to Yonge Street (approximately 15 metres south of Nipigon Avenue) and one inbound access on Nipigon Avenue.

The existing northbound left-turn lane on Yonge Street serves an access to Centrepoint Mall which is located on the west side of Yonge Street immediately north of the subject access to No. 6365 Yonge Street. As a result, it is not possible to provide a southbound left-turn storage lane on Yonge Street in this vicinity. Southbound left-turning movements into the subject access would be required to wait in the southbound through lane blocking one lane of southbound through traffic.

At the site plan approval stage, it was agreed that southbound Yonge Street access to No. 6535 Yonge Street could be achieved via a southbound left turn at Yonge Street and Nipigon Avenue, and then accessing the site from Nipigon Avenue. There is an existing southbound left-turn lane at Yonge Street and Nipigon Avenue. Since the subject access will operate as one-way outbound, traffic destined to the site from northbound Yonge Street will also access the site via Nipigon Avenue.

The northbound right-turn prohibition will support the one-way outbound operation and reduce the potential for motorists mistaking the access as inbound or two-way.

Both ward Councillors are aware of the recommendations of this report.

Conclusions:

The prohibition of southbound left turns and northbound right turns at this access is a condition of site plan approval. It is supported by the installation of appropriate signage and the introduction of a one-way westbound outbound movement from this driveway and will promote safe and efficient traffic operations on this section of Yonge Street.

Contact Name:

Bruce Zvaniga, Manager

North & West Traffic Regions (416) 392-8826

David C. Kaufman

General Manager, Transportation Services

Barry H. Gutteridge

Commissioner, Works and Emergency Services

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