Reversal of One-way Southbound Operation
- St. Clarens Avenue between Bloor Street West
and Paton Road (Davenport)
The Toronto Community Council recommends that the one-way southbound operation
on St. Clarens Avenue between Bloor Street West and Paton Road be reversed.
The Toronto Community Council submits the following report (September 2, 1998)
from the Director, Infrastructure Planning and Transportation, City works Services:
Purpose:
To report on the reversal of the existing one-way southbound operation on St. Clarens
Avenue, between Bloor Street West and Paton Road, to a one-way northbound operation.
Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
Not applicable.
Recommendation:
That this report be received for information.
Background:
At its meeting of July 29, 30 and 31, 1998 City Council, in considering Clause No. 23 in
Toronto Community Council Report No. 10 entitled, "Installation of Speed Humps -
Margueretta Street from Bloor Street West to Wallace Avenue (Davenport)", amended the
foregoing Clause by adding thereto "It is further recommended that the General Manager,
Transportation Services, be requested to submit a report to the Toronto Community Council
on the feasibility of reverting St. Clarens Avenue, from Bloor Street West to Paton Road,
back to a northbound, one-way street."
Comments:
In response to a memorandum dated September 30, 1993 addressed to the City Services
Committee from former Councillor Rob Maxwell, Works was requested to review the
possibility of reversing one block of St. Clarens Avenue, between Bloor Street West and
Paton Road, from one-way northbound to one-way southbound, to address concerns raised
by area residents regarding certain illegal activities taking place on St. Clarens Avenue just
north of Bloor Street West.
The City Services Committee at its meeting of October 13, 1993 recommended that the
above-noted block of St. Clarens Avenue be reversed to operate one-way southbound for a
six month trial period and that the Commissioner report back on the results of the trial. The
Committee also requested that the Commissioner report directly to City Council on
November 1, 1993 on the implementation of this proposal.
Works staff undertook a study and prepared a report to City Council advising that the
reversal of the one-way operation on this portion of St. Clarens Avenue would likely result
in a shift of the traffic pattern west from the existing area to an adjacent area including
Lansdowne Avenue and that the change would not curtail the illegal activity, just shift the
problem over to the next available northbound street, namely Lansdowne Avenue. It was
anticipated that Lansdowne Avenue would experience an increase in traffic of about 900
vehicles per day and that approximately 650 southbound vehicles would be displaced from
neighbouring streets onto St. Clarens Avenue as a result of the reversal. City Council
adopted the City Services Committee's recommendation and approved the one-way reversal
at its meeting of November 1 and 2, 1993 (Clause 36 in City Services Committee Report
No. 13). Signs to give effect thereto were posted on January 5, 1994.
In a report dated August 18, 1994 to the City Services Committee, the Commissioner, as
requested, reported back after the six month trial. It was noted that there had been a 44%
increase in traffic on St. Clarens Avenue between Paton Road and Bloor Street West but that
on Emerson Avenue, one street to the east and the nearest southbound operating street,
traffic had been reduced by approximately 17%. There had been no complaints from area
residents during the trial period and it was recommended that the one-way operation be
maintained. The report was received by the City Services Committee at its meeting of
August 31, 1994.
Should Toronto Community Council wish to proceed with the one-way reversal of the
portion of St. Clarens Avenue between Bloor Street West and Paton Road, then the
following recommendations should be adopted:
(1)That the existing one-way southbound regulation on St. Clarens Avenue from Bloor
Street West to Paton Road be rescinded;
(2)That a one-way northbound regulation be established on St. Clarens Avenue from Bloor
Street West to Paton Road; and
(3)That the appropriate City Officials be requested to take whatever action is necessary to
give effect to the foregoing, including the introduction in Council of any Bills that are
required.
Contact Name and Telephone Number:
Erin Holl, 392-7892
Co-ordinator - Transportation Operations Section
The Toronto Community Council reports, for the information of Council, having also had
before it during the consideration of the foregoing matter, Clause 23, contained in Report
No. 10 of the Toronto Community Council, titled "Installation of Speed Humps -
Margueretta Street from Bloor West to Wallace Avenue (Davenport)", which was adopted
by City Council at its meeting on July 29, 30 and 31, 1998, a copy of which is on file in the
office of the City Clerk.