Traffic Calming - Wendell Avenue, Pellatt Avenue to Gary Drive
and Gary Drive, Yelland Street to Wendell Avenue
North York Humber
The North York Community Council recommends the adoption of the following report (March
23, 1998) from the Commissioner of Transportation, North York Civic Centre:
Purpose:
To install, on a temporary basis, traffic calming measures on Wendell Avenue and Gary Drive.
Source of funds:
All costs associated with the installation of the temporary traffic calming measures are included
within the 1998 traffic calming budget.
Recommendation:
It is recommended that, for a six month trial period, traffic calming measures be installed on Wendell
Avenue and Gary Drive. The specific measures would include intersection diverters, pinch points
or chicanes, and a traffic circle.
Council Reference/Background/History:
In accordance with the former City of North York Council Policy for Traffic Calming, staff have met
with the affected residents to address their traffic related concerns. A residents working group was
established to identify both the concerns and the traffic calming measures which the residents
considered appropriate for their community.
Discussion:
On March 19, staff met with Councillor George Mammoliti and members of the working group,
which represented the residents of the greater community, to develop a traffic calming proposal. The
development of the proposal was necessary to address the residents long standing concern for
transient traffic, specifically combination tractor trailers. These heavy vehicles, often making
deliveries to industrial properties surrounding the community, are using local streets inappropriately
to access the adjacent arterial roadway system.
The proposal, which was endorsed by the working group, calls for the following test installations:
- •intersection diverters on the south approach to the Wendell Avenue/Pellatt Avenue
intersection and the south and east approaches to the Gary Drive/Yelland Street intersection;
- •a series of "pinch points" or chicanes on Wendell Avenue, between Pellatt Avenue and Gary
Drive; and
- •a traffic circle at the intersection of Wendell Avenue with Gary Drive.
In accordance with Council Policy, these measures will be installed on a temporary basis, for a six
month period. At the end of this period, the residents will be polled and their input requested as to
the permanency of the traffic calming proposal.
The temporary traffic calming measures will be installed using planters, concrete curb stones and
pavement markings. Throughout the evaluation process, minor modifications may take place as a
result of localized traffic conditions. The narrowing of the travelled portion of the roadway width
to 6.0 metres or the installation of the intersection diverters and traffic circle, will not interfere with
street maintenance, snow removal operations or emergency services.
Materials currently exist in stock to install the temporary measures, at a minimal cost. It is estimated
that should the plan be implemented on a permanent basis, the total expense would be approximately
$62,500.00. Appropriate funding would subsequently have to be allocated from approved capital
accounts. The following identifies the estimated cost for each of the traffic calming measures being
considered within the proposal:
Traffic Calming Measure |
Estimated Cost ($) |
Intersection diverter, Wendell Avenue at Pellatt Avenue |
7,500.00 |
Intersection diverters, Gary Drive at Yelland Street |
15,000.00 |
Pinch Points/Chicanes, Wendell Avenue between Pellatt Avenue
and Gary Drive |
15,000.00 |
Traffic Circle, Wendell Avenue at Gary Drive |
25,000.00 |
Conclusions:
It is recommended that approval be granted to install, on a temporary basis, the traffic calming
measurers as identified above, and that at the completion of the six month trial period staff be
directed to report back to the Community Council with the residents decision on whether permanent
construction of the traffic calming measures should proceed.
Contact Name:
Mr. Michael Frederick, Director of Operations, at 395-7484.