March 30, 1999

To:Etobicoke Community Council

From:John W. Thomas, P.Eng., MBA, Director, Transportation Services - District 2

Subject:Request for the Installation of a Pedestrian Crossover or Traffic Control Signals

Burnhamthorpe Road near Echo Valley Road

(Kingsway-Humber)

Purpose:

To review the feasibility of installing a pedestrian crossover or traffic control signals on BurnhamthorpeRoad near Echo Valley Road.

Funding Sources:

There are no funding implications with the recommendations of this report.

Recommendation:

It is recommended that a pedestrian crossover or traffic control signals not be installed on BurnhamthorpeRoad in the vicinity of Echo Valley Road.

Background:

Dr. Barbara Pilarski and Mr. Marcel Tillie's residence is located at 8 Lorraine Gardens and their children attend Our Lady of Peace school located at Botfield Avenue and Mattice Avenue. Dr. Barbara Pilarski and Mr. Marcel Tillie requested that a crosswalk be installed across Burnhamthorpe Road between KiplingAvenue and Martin Grove Road. (Attachment No. 1).

Discussion:

Lorraine Gardens is a residential street and forms a "T" intersection with Burnhamthorpe Road from the north (Attachment No. 2). The are no Toronto Transit Commission bus stops at this location and no apparent vehicle or pedestrian generators, therefore, our Department completed a Pedestrian Crossover Warrant Study covering a 100 metres area at the Toronto Transit Commission bus stops located on Burnhamthorpe Road at Echo Valley Road and Botfield Avenue. In addition, we also conducted a TrafficControl Signal Warrant Study at Burnhamthorpe Road and Echo Valley Road and at BurnhamthorpeRoad and Botfield Avenue. The locations for review were chosen for their proximity to home and to school. These studies are based on the traffic volumes and pedestrian counts conducted during the busiest eight-hours of a typical weekday. The results of the studies are tabled below:

Pedestrian Crossover Warrant Study

Burnhamthorpe Road and Echo Valley Road/Botfield Avenue

A pedestrian crossover study was conducted covering an area approximately 50 metres west of EchoValleyRoad and 50 metres east of Botfield Avenue. The results are as follows:

WarrantCompliance

Pedestrian Volume23 %

Pedestrian Delay24 %

For a pedestrian crossover to be numerically warranted, both the "Pedestrian Volume" and "Pedestrian Delays" must be satisfied 100%. During our eight-hour study conducted on a typical weekday, a total of 46 pedestrians crossed Burnhamthorpe Road within the study zone, and there were no senior citizens, unassisted children or disabled pedestrians recorded in the total. Observations revealed that there were gaps available in the east-west traffic flow and no unsafe crossings were noted. For the installation of a pedestrian crossover, the minimum technical warrants require that a minimum of 200 pedestrians and 130 pedestrian delays greater than 10 seconds be recorded crossing BurnhamthorpeRoad in an eight-hour period.

Collision History

A review of the collision records provided by the Toronto Police Service revealed that one collision has been reported involving a pedestrian on this section of Burnhamthorpe Road in the five-year period ending May31, 1998. There were no charges laid in this collision. A 60 years old pedestrian sustained minor injuries when the driver of the vehicle stopped, however, the pedestrian continued to walk into the side of the vehicle.

At locations were the installation of a pedestrian crossover is not justified, considerations are given to the installation of a pedestrian refuge island. The installation of a pedestrian refuge island requires a minimum road width of 16.5 metres, however, Burnhamthorpe Road in this vicinity is 13.9 metres wide. Therefore, to accommodate the installation of a pedestrian refuge island, a localized road widening of BurnhamthorpeRoad would be required.

In May 1996, our Department conducted a Pedestrian Crossover Warrant Study in this vicinity of Burnhamthorpe Road and the results were similar to the current results.

Traffic Control Signal Warrant Study

Burnhamthorpe Road and Echo Valley Road

Study Results:

WarrantCompliance

(1) Minimum Vehicular Volume4%

(2) Delay to Cross Traffic17%

(3) Collision Hazard6%

Burnhamthorpe Road and Botfield Avenue

Study Results:

WarrantCompliance

(1) Minimum Vehicular Volume5%

(2) Delay to Cross Traffic17%

(3) Collision Hazard0%

For the traffic control signal warrants to be numerically satisfied, one of the "Minimum Vehicular Volume" or "Delay to Cross Traffic" warrants must be 100% satisfied or any two of the three warrants must be 80% satisfied.

The Collision Hazard warrant is based on the number of collisions that occurred at the intersection in a three-year period which was potentially preventable by the installation of traffic control signals. Collision statistics provided by the Toronto Police Service revealed that there has been one potentially preventable collision at the intersection of Burnhamthorpe Road and Echo Valley Road and no collisions have occurred involving pedestrians during the three-year period ending May 31, 1998.

The signalized intersection of Burnhamthorpe Road and Kipling Avenue is located approximately 190 metres east of Botfield Avenue and could be used as an alternative crossing.

In addition, as part of our investigation, our Department conducted a radar speed study of the speed of traffic on this section of Burnhamthorpe Road. The posted speed limit on this section of Burnhamthorpe Road is 50 km/h. The results of our radar speed study indicated that the 85th percentile speed was 68 km/h for eastbound traffic and 66 km/h for westbound traffic. The 85th percentile speed is the speed, at or below which, 85% of vehicles generally travel. We have forwarded the results of speed study to the Toronto Police Service and requested enforcement of the posted 50 km/h speed limit.

Conclusions:

Based on the above-noted study results, the technical warrants for the installation of a pedestrian crossover or traffic control signals are not met and the collision records do not indicate a safety concern. The small number of pedestrians crossing Burnhamthorpe Road does not justify the installation of a pedestrian refuge island, considering the high cost of widening Burnhamthorpe Road at this location. An alternative, although somewhat circuitous, is available at the signalized intersection at Burnhamthorpe Road and Kipling Avenue.

Contact Name:

Dominic Gulli, Manager, Traffic Operations - District 2.

(416)394-8409; Fax 394-8942.

John W. Thomas, P.Eng., MBA

Director, Transportation Services - District 2

Attachments

cc: Street File - Burnhamthorpe Road