Proposed Southbound Right-Turn-on-Red Prohibition

at Bloor Street West and Symington Avenue.

 The Urban Environment and Development Committee recommends the adoption of the report (April 24, 1998) from the Interim Functional Lead, Transportation.

 The Urban Environment and Development Committee reports, for the information of Council, having requested the Interim Functional Lead, Transportation, to submit a status report on this matter to the Urban Environment and Development Committee in three months' time.

 The Urban Environment and Development Committee submits the following report (April 24, 1998) from the Interim Functional Lead, Transportation:

 Purpose:

 To improve the pedestrian crossing environment at the intersection of Bloor Street West and Symington Avenue.

 Funding Sources:

 The funds for this work are contained in the Transportation Department's 1998 Current Budget Estimates. The estimated cost to install the signs is $500.00.

 Recommendations:

 It is recommended that:

 (1)southbound right-turns-on-red be prohibited at all times at the intersection of Bloor Street West and Symington Avenue; and

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

 Background:

 Our Department reviewed the feasibility of improving the pedestrian crossing environment for pedestrians crossing Symington Avenue at Bloor Street West.

 Discussion:

 The intersection of Bloor Street West and Symington Avenue/Sterling Road is controlled by traffic signals. Symington Avenue forms the north leg of a "near-right" offset intersection. During the busiest eight-hour period of a typical weekday approximately 500 pedestrians cross the north leg of the intersection, while approximately 1,200 southbound right turns are made at this intersection during the same time period.

Our field observations at this intersection revealed that southbound motorists routinely encroach into the pedestrian crosswalk on the north leg of this intersection while making a right turn on a red signal indication. Sightlines between approaching pedestrians and southbound right-turning motorists are reduced by a building located close to the north-west corner of this intersection. This tends to encourage the encroachment of vehicles into the crosswalk which creates a hazard for pedestrians crossing the north leg of the intersection.

 A review of Toronto Police Service collision records over a five-year period ending December 31, 1996, revealed that four collisions, involving pedestrians and southbound right-turning motorists on a red signal indication, had occurred at this intersection. All collisions involved pedestrians crossing from the west side to the east side of the north leg of the intersection. Further analysis did not reveal a pattern with respect to the times of the collisions.

 In order to reduce conflicts between southbound right-turning motorists and pedestrians crossing on the north leg of the intersection, it is recommended that southbound right-turns-on-red be prohibited at all times. There is sufficient intersection capacity to accommodate this modification.

 Conclusion:

 The prohibition of southbound right-turns-on-red will improve the pedestrian crossing environment at the intersection of Bloor Street West and Symington Avenue.

 Contact Name:

 Ms. Jacqueline White, Acting Manager, Central Traffic Region, 397-5021.

 (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 May 19, 1998 meeting of the Urban Environment and Development Committee, and a copy thereof is also on file in the office of the City Clerk.)