Proposed Installation of Traffic Control Signals:

Tapscott Road and Newgale Gate.

The Urban Environment and Development Committee recommends the adoption of the following report (February 13, 1998) from the Interim Functional Lead, Transportation:

Purpose:

To obtain approval for the installation of traffic control signals at the intersection of Tapscott Road and Newgale Gate.

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. The estimated cost of installing traffic control signals at the intersection of Tapscott Road and Newgale Gate is $85,000.00.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1) traffic control signals be approved at the intersection of Tapscott Road at Newgale Gate; and

(2) installation be subject to the approval of the 1998 Capital Works Program and the securing of appropriate financing.

Background:

At the request of staff at the former City of Scarborough Works and Environment Department in 1997, Toronto Transportation staff conducted an investigation to determine the feasibility of providing traffic control signals at the intersection of Tapscott Road and Newgale Gate.

Discussion:

Tapscott Road in the vicinity of Newgale Gate is a four-lane collector road with a two-way, 24-hour volume of approximately 13,800 vehicles. Adjacent traffic control signals are located 505 metres to the south at Finch Avenue East and 1.5 kilometres to the north at Passmore Avenue.

Newgale Gate is a two-lane local roadway with a two-way, 24-hour volume of approximately 3,100 vehicles. Newgale Gate intersects Tapscott Road on the east side while the west leg of the intersection is a driveway access to an industrial/ commercial complex.

An eight-hour traffic control signal warrant study was conducted and revealed that traffic control signals are technically warranted. The results are listed below:

Warrant Compliance

(1) Minimum Vehicular Volume 90 percent

(2) Delay to Cross Traffic 80 percent

(3) Collision Hazard 27 percent

Either Warrant 1 or Warrant 2 should be 100 per cent satisfied or any two of the three warrants should be 80 per cent satisfied to satisfy the minimum technical requirements for the installation of traffic control signals. 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 that four collisions occurred over the three-year period from January 1, 1994, to December 31, 1996, which were potentially preventable by the installation of traffic control signals. Based on the above information, the technical warrants for the installation of traffic control signals are met.

Neither Tapscott Road or Newgale Gate are major arterial roads and the installation of traffic control signals will not impact the network of arterial roads. Furthermore, the traffic control signals will provide benefits to all road users in the immediate area.

Following approval of a group of traffic signal installations, tender documents will be prepared, and qualified electrical contractors will be asked to submit bids for this work. The installation of these traffic control signals is subject to the approval of the 1998 Capital Works Program, which is scheduled to be considered by City Council on April 28, 1998.

Conclusions:

Traffic control signals are technically warranted and are recommended at the intersection of Tapscott Road and Newgale Gate.

Contact Name and Telephone Number:

Mr. Martin Maguire, Acting Manager, East Traffic Region, 392-5243.

(A copy of the location plan, which was appended to the foregoing report, has been forwarded to all Members of Council with the agenda of the March 23 and 24, 1998, meeting of the Urban Environment and Development Committee, and a copy thereof is also on file in the office of the City Clerk.)