July 30, 1998
To:Urban Environment and Development Committee
From:General Manager, Transportation Services
Subject:Request for Traffic Control Signals
Midland Avenue and Lockie Avenue
Scarborough Agincourt; Councillors Doug Mahood, Sherene Shaw
Purpose:
To report on the results of the traffic signal warrant studies conducted at Midland Avenue and Lockie Avenue.
Recommendation:
It is recommended that this report be received for information.
Background:
This location was investigated in response to concerns raised by members of the public about the operation of the existing
pedestrian crossover at Midland Avenue and Lockie Avenue.
Discussion:
Midland Avenue in this vicinity is a four-lane arterial roadway with a posted speed limit of 50 km/h and a two-way 24 hour
volume of approximately 21,100 vehicles. Lockie Avenue, a local road, forms a "T" intersection on the west side of
Midland Avenue. An eastbound stop sign on Lockie Avenue controls traffic at this intersection. A pedestrian crossover
(PXO) is located on the south leg of the intersection and a crossing guard is on duty during the peak pedestrian student
crossing hours. At Lockie Avenue there is a northbound far-side bus bay and southbound far-side bus bay. Agincourt
Collegiate Institute is located on the east side of Midland Avenue opposite Lockie Avenue. Agincourt Junior Public School
is located on the south side of Lockie Avenue immediately west of Midland Avenue. Adjacent traffic control signals are
located approximately 875 metres to the north at Huntingwood Drive and 385 metres to the south at Sheppard Avenue East.
Over the past three years, several eight hour traffic control signal warrant studies have been conducted which consistently
revealed that the warrants for traffic control signals are not met at the intersection of Midland Avenue and Lockie Avenue.
The warrant studies also included the traffic movements at the Agincourt Collegiate Institute north driveway as the fourth
leg of the intersection. The results are listed below:
| Warrant |
Compliance |
|
June 3, 1998 |
October 15, 1997 |
February 20, 1997 |
December 5, 1995 |
| Minimum Vehicular Volume |
58% |
61% |
63% |
59% |
| Delay to Cross Traffic |
92% |
88% |
89% |
78% |
| Collision Hazard |
27% |
27% |
27% |
13% |
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 4 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. Three of these collisions involved pedestrians who
were hit by vehicles while crossing at the PXO. Two of the three pedestrians sustained minor injuries while one pedestrian
sustained major injuries. Based on the above information, the technical warrants for the installation of traffic control signals
are not met.
The operational characteristics of the existing PXO were evaluated 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 is above 60 km/h |
| Not more than four lanes wide |
Not met |
5 lanes including bus bay |
| Traffic volume less than 35,000 vehicles per
day |
Met |
21,140 per day |
| No driveways or entrances nearby |
Met |
Driveways to north and south
sufficiently distant |
| No significant volume of turning movements
which interfere with the PXO |
Met |
Low volumes from Lockie Avenue |
| No visibility problems exist for either
pedestrians or vehicles |
Met |
None |
| No loading zones (including TTC) in the
immediate vicinity |
Not met |
Far-side bus bays both directions |
| Not less than 215 metres to another PXO or
traffic control device |
Met |
875 metres to Huntingwood Drive;
385 metres to Sheppard Avenue East. |
A review of the PXO environmental criteria which were not satisfied revealed that they are either conditions that are
presently being addressed or ones that have minimal impact on public safety in this case. For instance, the current speed
profile of vehicles on Midland Avenue is a concern. The Police have attended public meetings regarding this issue and are
conducting speed enforcement. The road width is technically five lanes but the fifth lane is a southbound far side bus bay
and the PXO is located at the north end of the bus bay. This bus bay does not increase the complexity of the crossing
environment to the degree a left-turn lane or a through lane would and therefore has minimal impact. Although there are
far-side T.T.C. bus stops in both directions, the northbound bus stop is a considerable distance from the PXO and both
stops have bus bays which allow for good visibility when buses are present.
Based on the low 24 hour traffic volume on Midland Avenue and the fact that a crossing guard is on duty during the peak
school crossing hours, the subject location continues to be suitable for a PXO. Staff have contacted the ward Councillors
and both Councillors Mahood and Shaw have requested that traffic control signals be installed at the subject location.
Councillor Mahood has specifically requested that mid-block pedestrian actuated traffic control signals be installed.
Conclusions:
The technical warrants for the installation of traffic control signals are not met at Midland Avenue and Lockie Avenue and
the location is suitable for a PXO.
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/jr/wo
