Proposed Installation of Traffic Control Signals:

Westclair Centre Site Driveway

- Weston Road North of St. Clair Avenue West.

The Urban Environment and Development Committee recommends the adoption of the report (September 18, 1998) from the General Manager, Transportation Services.

The Urban Environment and Development Committee reports, for the information of Council, having requested the General Manager, Transportation Services:

(a)to review this matter with the Toronto Pedestrian Committee prior to installing the proposed traffic control signals at the central site access for the Westclair Centre development on Weston Road, north of St. Clair Avenue West; and

(b)to submit more detailed intersection maps with future reports of this nature.

The Urban Environment and Development Committee submits the following report (September 18, 1998) from the General Manager, Transportation Services:

Purpose:

To obtain approval for the installation of traffic control signals at the central site access for the Westclair Centre development on Weston Road north of St. Clair Avenue West.

Funding Sources:

The funds associated with new traffic control signal installations will be the responsibility of the developer, Imland Corporation. The estimated upset limit for installing the traffic control signals is $100,000.00.

Recommendations:

It is recommended that at the central site access for the Westclair Centre development on WestonRoad north of St. Clair Avenue West:

(1)traffic control signals be installed;

(2)westbound right-turns-on-red be prohibited;

(3)the southerly westbound approach lane be designated for left turns only from Weston Road to the City of Toronto property line;

(4)the northerly westbound approach lane be designated for left and right turns only from Weston Road to the City of Toronto property line;

(5)pedestrian crossings be prohibited at all times on Weston Road between the north curb line of the central site access and a point 30.5 metres south of the south curb line of the central site access; and

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

Background:

The development of a 143,000 square foot retail commercial development with parking for 693vehicles has been approved at the northeast corner of Weston Road and St. Clair Avenue West. In our conditions of approval for this development, we required that traffic control signals be in place at the central site access prior to the occupancy of any building on the site. The developer was also required to provide a letter of credit for all costs associated with the traffic control signal.

Discussion:

Weston Road north of St. Clair Avenue West is a four-lane roadway with a centre left-turn lane which extends north to Gunns Road. The proposed development is located on the east side of Weston Road and extends north from St. Clair Avenue West to Gunns Road. Three driveways from the site are proposed to Weston Road. Our review of the development application determined that in order to accommodate the traffic generated by the site, a traffic control signal at the central site access would be required. The estimated traffic demand at the central site access would meet the provincial warrants for traffic control signals. Adjacent traffic control signals are located at the intersection of Keele Street and St. Clair Avenue West 245 metres to the south of the central site access, and at the intersection of Weston Road and Gunns Road 205 metres north of the central site access.

In our review of the proposed signal, it was also determined that the required horizontal sight distance for vehicles travelling northbound on Weston Road to a vehicle making a westbound right-turn-on-red would not be met. Consequently, the westbound right-turn-on-red movement should be prohibited.

The proposed configuration of the east leg of the intersection will include one inbound lane, one outbound left-turn lane and one outbound shared left/right lane. As a result of this configuration, pedestrian crossings will be limited to the north side of the intersection for the added safety of pedestrians.

Conclusions:

Traffic control signals should be installed on Weston Road at the central site access to the WestclairCentre development in order to accommodate the traffic generated by the site.

Contact Name and Telephone Number:

Ms. B.J. Walewski, Acting Manager, Program and Development Engineering, 392-8589.

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Ms. Rhona Swarbrick, Co-Chair, Toronto Pedestrian Committee, appeared before the Urban Environment and Development Committee in connection with the foregoing matter; and filed a written brief with respect thereto.

(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 October 5, 1998 meeting of the Urban Environment and Development Committee, and a copy thereof is also on file in the office of the City Clerk.)