Proposed Installation of Traffic Control Signals:

McNicoll Avenue and

Harold Evans Crescent/Placer Court.

The Urban Environment and Development Committee recommends the adoption of the report (September 9, 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 submit a report to the November 2, 1998 meeting of the Urban Environment and Development Committee listing the 21 traffic control signals that have been approved and funded for installation in 1998, as well as the signals which have been approved and placed on the Department's priority list, but funding for which has not been allocated; and

(b)to meet with the Toronto Pedestrian Committee (TPC) to develop a protocol for consulting with the TPC regarding the installation of traffic control signals prior to reporting thereon to the Urban Environment and Development Committee.

The Urban Environment and Development Committee submits the following report (September 9, 1998) from the General Manager, Transportation Services:

Purpose:

To obtain approval for the installation of traffic control signals at the intersection of McNicoll Avenue and Harold Evans Crescent/Placer Court.

Funding Sources:

The funds associated with new traffic signal installations are contained in the Works and Emergency Services Capital Program under Project No C-TR031. In 1998, $1.6 million has been allocated for new traffic control signal installations. These funds have been fully committed already through the approval of 21 new signal installations. Therefore, unless additional funding is identified in 1998, new signal approvals for the balance of 1998 will be placed on a priority list for 1999 and await approval of the appropriate budget item in the 1999 Capital Budget. The estimated cost of the installation of traffic control signals at this location is $72,900.00.

Recommendation:

It is recommended that traffic control signals be approved on McNicoll Avenue at Harold Evans Crescent/Placer Court.

Background:

This location was investigated in response to a request from a member of the public to improve the delay experienced by vehicles waiting to enter McNicoll Avenue from Harold Evans Crescent/Placer Court.

Discussion:

McNicoll Avenue in this vicinity is a two-lane collector roadway with a posted speed limit of 50kilometres per hour and a two-way, 24-hour volume of approximately 12,000 vehicles. HaroldEvans Crescent and Placer Court are both local roads that intersect with McNicoll Avenue to form a full intersection with four approaches. Harold Evans Crescent is on the north side of McNicoll Avenue and Placer Court is directly opposite on the south side. At Harold Evans Crescent/Placer Court, there are eastbound, westbound and southbound near side bus stops. The intersection is located in an industrial area bounded by Highway No. 404 to the west, Steeles Avenue East to the north, Pharmacy Avenue to the east and an Ontario Hydro corridor to the south. Adjacent traffic control signals are located approximately 1180 metres to the west at Don Mills Road and 395metres to the east at Victoria Park Avenue.

An eight-hour traffic control signal warrant study was conducted and revealed that traffic control signals are technically warranted. The results are listed below:

For the traffic control signal warrants to be satisfied, one of the "Minimum Vehicular Volume" or "Delay to Cross Traffic" warrants must be 100 per cent. 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 one collision occurred over a three-year period from January 1, 1994, to December31, 1996, which was potentially preventable by the installation of traffic control signals. Based on the above information, the technical warrants for the installation of traffic control signals are met.

Neither McNicoll Avenue, Harold Evans Crescent or Placer Court are arterial roads and the installation of traffic control signals would not have an impact on the effectiveness of the network of arterial roads. Furthermore, the traffic control signals would provide benefits to all road users in the immediate area.

Staff have contacted the Ward Councillors and Councillor King has voiced support for the proposed installation of traffic control signals at this location while Councillor Shiner has reserved judgement.

Conclusions:

The installation of traffic control signals on McNicoll Avenue and Harold Evans Crescent/Placer Court are technically warranted and would provide benefits to all road users in the immediate area. In 1998, $1.6 million has been allocated for new traffic control signal installation. Twenty-one traffic control signals have been approved so far in 1998, which fully commits all these funds. Therefore, unless additional funding is identified in 1998, the installation of newly-approved traffic control signals will have to await approval of the appropriate budget item in the 1999 Capital Budget.

Contact Name and Telephone Number:

Mr. Martin D. Maguire, Acting Manager, East Traffic Region, 392-5243.

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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.)