Installation of Traffic Control Signals:
Midland Avenue and Lockie Avenue.
The Urban Environment and Development Committee recommends that:
(1)traffic control signals be installed at the intersection of Midland Avenue and LockieAvenue; and
(2)the necessary funding therefor be made available from Account No.70697-00000-00000-853, Section 37
agreement - Monarch Construction Ltd. -$85,000.00.
The Urban Environment and Development Committee submits the following report (July 30, 1998) from the
General Manager, Transportation Services:
Purpose:
To report on the results of the traffic signal warrant studies conducted at Midland Avenue and LockieAvenue.
Recommendation:
It is recommended that this report be received for information.
Background:
This location was investigated in response to concerns raised by members of the public about the operation of the existing
pedestrian crossover at Midland Avenue and Lockie Avenue.
Discussion:
Midland Avenue in this vicinity is a four-lane arterial roadway with a posted speed limit of 50kilometres per hour and a
two-way, 24-hour volume of approximately 21,100 vehicles. LockieAvenue, a local road, forms a "T" intersection on the
west side of Midland Avenue. An eastbound stop sign on Lockie Avenue controls traffic at this intersection. A pedestrian
crossover (PXO) is located on the south leg of the intersection and a crossing guard is on duty during the peak pedestrian
student crossing hours. At Lockie Avenue there is a northbound far-side bus bay and a southbound far-side bus bay.
Agincourt Collegiate Institute is located on the east side of MidlandAvenue opposite Lockie Avenue. Agincourt Junior
Public School is located on the south side of Lockie Avenue immediately west of Midland Avenue. Adjacent traffic
control signals are located approximately 875 metres to the north at Huntingwood Drive and 385 metres to the south at
Sheppard Avenue East.
Over the past three years, several eight-hour traffic control signal warrant studies have been conducted which consistently
revealed that the warrants for traffic control signals are not met at the intersection of Midland Avenue and Lockie
Avenue. The warrant studies also included the traffic movements at the Agincourt Collegiate Institute north driveway as
the fourth leg of the intersection. The results are listed below:
|
Warrant |
Compliance |
|
June 3, 1998 |
October 15, 1997 |
February 20, 1997 |
December 5, 1995 |
| Minimum Vehicular
Volume |
58% |
61% |
63% |
59% |
| Delay to Cross Traffic |
92% |
88% |
89% |
78% |
| Collision Hazard |
27% |
27% |
27% |
13% |
For the traffic control signal warrants to be satisfied, one of the "Minimum Vehicular Volume" or "Delay to Cross
Traffic" warrants must be 100 percent satisfied or any two of the three warrants must be at least 80 percent satisfied. 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 four collisions occurred over a three-year period from January 1, 1994, to December31,
1996, which were potentially preventable by the installation of traffic control signals. Three of these collisions involved
pedestrians who were hit by vehicles while crossing at the PXO. Two of the three pedestrians sustained minor injuries
while one pedestrian sustained major injuries. Based on the above information, the technical warrants for the installation
of traffic control signals are not met.
The operational characteristics of the existing PXO were evaluated 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 60kilometres per hour |
Not met |
85th percentile is above 60 kilometres per hour |
| Not more than four lanes wide |
Not met |
Five lanes including bus bay |
| Traffic volume less than 35,000 vehicles per day |
Met |
21,140 per day |
| No driveways or entrances nearby |
Met |
Driveways to north and south sufficiently distant |
| No significant volume of turning movements which interfere with the PXO |
Met |
Low volumes from Lockie Avenue |
| No visibility problems exist for either pedestrians or vehicles |
Met |
None |
| No loading zones (including TTC) in the immediate vicinity |
Not met |
Far-side bus bays both directions |
| Not less than 215 metres to another PXO or traffic control device |
Met |
875 metres to Huntingwood Drive;
385 metres to Sheppard Avenue East. |
A review of the PXO environmental criteria which were not satisfied revealed that they are either conditions that are
presently being addressed or ones that have minimal impact on public safety in this case. For instance, the current speed
profile of vehicles on Midland Avenue is a concern. The Police have attended public meetings regarding this issue and are
conducting speed enforcement. The road width is technically five lanes but the fifth lane is a southbound far-side bus bay
and the PXO is located at the north end of the bus bay. This bus bay does not increase the complexity of the crossing
environment to the degree that a left-turn lane or a through lane would and therefore has minimal impact. Although there
are far-side TTC bus stops in both directions, the northbound bus stop is a considerable distance from the PXO and both
stops have bus bays which allow for good visibility when buses are present.
Based on the low 24-hour traffic volume on Midland Avenue and the fact that a crossing guard is on duty during the peak
school crossing hours, the subject location continues to be suitable for a PXO.
Staff have contacted the Ward Councillors and both Councillors Mahood and Shaw have requested that traffic control
signals be installed at the subject location. Councillor Mahood has specifically requested that mid-block
pedestrian-actuated traffic control signals be installed.
Conclusions:
The technical warrants for the installation of traffic control signals are not met at Midland Avenue and Lockie Avenue
and the location is suitable for a PXO.
Contact Name and Telephone Number:
Mr. Martin D. Maguire, Acting Manager, East Traffic Region, 392-5243.
The Urban Environment and Development Committee also submits the following communication (October 2,
1998) from Councillor Doug Mahood, Scarborough Agincourt:
Due to previous commitments and an important Ontario Municipal Board Hearing occurring on Monday, October 5,
1998, I will be unable to attend the October 5th meeting of the Urban Environment and Development Committee.
I am requesting that Members of the Urban Environment and Development Committee support the installation of traffic
control signals at the intersections of:
(1)McNicoll Avenue and Silver Springs Boulevard (Item No. 9); and
(2)Midland Avenue and Lockie Avenue (Item No. 10).
I have had numerous discussions with residents regarding both of these very dangerous intersections and fully support the
installation of traffic control signals at these locations. The Midland/Lockie intersection connects Agincourt Junior Public
School (located at the west end of the current crosswalk) with the Agincourt Collegiate High School (located at the east
end of the current crosswalk). There have been very serious personal injury accidents at this location and it is only a
matter of time before one or more young children are killed at this location. A set of traffic signals is an absolute necessity
at this intersection.
The former City of Scarborough had Section 37 funds dedicated for traffic improvements in this area, and I request that
Members of the Committee recommend the funding of these traffic improvements using these funds.
--------
Councillor Sherene Shaw, Scarborough Agincourt, appeared before the Urban Environment and Development Committee
in connection with the foregoing matter.
