Proposed Installation of Traffic Control Signals:
Birchmount Road and 2450/2500 Birchmount Road Driveway
(Site Access to Stephen Leacock Collegiate Institute,
John Buchan Senior Public School/
Stephen Leacock Arena and Community Centre).
The Urban Environment and Development Committee recommends the adoption of the following report (March 17,
1998) from the Interim Functional Lead, Transportation:
Purpose:
To obtain approval for the installation of traffic control signals at the intersection of Birchmount Road and 2450/2500
Birchmount Road driveway, coincident with the removal of the existing pedestrian crossover (PXO) located immediately
north of the driveway.
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 the installation of traffic control signals at 2450/2500
Birchmount Road is $90,000.00 including the removal of the existing PXO.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
(1)traffic control signals be approved on Birchmount Road at the driveway to 2450/2500 Birchmount Road;
(2)coincident with the traffic control signal installation, the existing pedestrian crossover on Birchmount Road north of the
driveway to 2450/2500 Birchmount Road be removed;
(3)installation be subject to the approval of the 1998 Capital Works program and the securing of appropriate financing; and
(4)the appropriate by-law(s) be amended accordingly.
Background:
This location was investigated at the request of a member of the public, who expressed concern about the operation of the
driveway to 2450/2500 Birchmount Road and the PXO immediately north of the driveway and requested that it be replaced
with traffic control signals.
Discussion:
Birchmount Road in this vicinity is a four-lane arterial roadway with a posted speed limit of 60 kilometres per hour. At the
driveway to 2450/2500 Birchmount Road, there is a northbound left-turn lane, a northbound far-side bus bay, and a
southbound far-side bus bay. A PXO is located immediately north of the driveway. The driveway serves as the site access
to 2450 Birchmount Road, Stephen Leacock Collegiate Institute and John Buchan Senior Public School, as well as 2500
Birchmount Road, Stephen Leacock Arena and Community Centre.
We have evaluated the operational characteristics of this PXO 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 kilometres per hour |
Not met |
85th percentile speed is greater than 60 kilometres
per hour |
| Not more than four lanes wide |
Not met |
Five lanes wide |
| Traffic volume less than 35,000 vehicles
per day |
Met |
25,000 vehicles per day |
| No driveways or entrances nearby |
Not met |
Major driveway at 2450/2500 Birchmount |
| No significant volume of turning movements
which interfere with the PXO |
Not met |
High volume of turns in the immediate area |
| No visibility problems exist for either
pedestrians or vehicles |
Met |
No visibility problems |
| No loading zones (including TTC) in the
immediate vicinity |
Not met |
Northbound and southbound TTC stops |
| Not less than 215 metres to another PXO or
traffic control device |
Met |
Traffic control signals are located
440 metres to the north at
Huntingwood Drive and 365 metres to the south
at Bonis Avenue/Bay Mills Boulevard |
This location does not meet five of the criteria listed above, specifically the operating speed, number of lanes, driveways in
proximity, high volume of turning vehicles and loading zone locations. In addition, we conducted a review of the Toronto
Police Service collision records for the five-year period ending December 31, 1996. During this period, there were three
collisions involving pedestrians and 23 rear-end collisions at the PXO.
Birchmount Road is a major arterial road. Given the adequate spacing between adjacent traffic control signals, the
replacement of the PXO with traffic control signals will not have a significant impact on the effectiveness of this arterial
within the network of arterial roads.
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 29, 1998.
Conclusions:
The existing PXO on Birchmount Road, north of the driveway at 2450/2500 Birchmount Road, is no longer operating in a
satisfactory fashion. Traffic control signals should be installed to improve the operational safety of this location.
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 April 20, 1998 meeting of the Urban Environment and Development Committee, and a copy thereof
is also on file in the office of the City Clerk.
