September 14, 1999

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

Purpose:

(1)To review the feasibility of installing a pedestrian crossover or traffic control signals on Burnhamthorpe Road near Echo Valley Road; and

(2)To review the feasibility of installing traffic control signals at the intersection of Burnhamthorpe Road and Lorraine Gardens, as well as at the Firehall (Station No. 3) driveway.

Funding Sources:

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

Recommendation:

It is recommended that a pedestrian crossover or traffic control signals not be installed at the intersection of Burnhamthorpe Road and Echo Valley Road and/or Botfield as the warrants are not met;

It is recommended that traffic control signals not be installed at the intersection of Burnhamthorpe Road and Lorraine Gardens as the warrants are not met;

It is recommended that traffic control signals not be installed at the Firehall driveway immediately west of Lorraine Gardens as the warrants are not met; and

It is recommended that Burnhamthorpe Road between Martin Grove Road and Kipling Avenue be monitored by staff and that staff report in the Fall of the year 2000 on the results of this monitoring program.

Background:

Further to a request from [residents of Lorraine Gardens], dated September 5, 1998, staff reviewed the feasibility of installing a pedestrian crossover or traffic control signals on Burnhamthorpe Road in the vicinity of Echo Valley Road. The subject installation was supported, through correspondence, by various stakeholders including Mr. Paul McGregor, Our Lady of Peace Catholic School, the Burnhamthorpe Residents for Traffic Safety (BRTS), Operation Maximum 50 Committee, and the Olivet Church.

The original request by [residents of Lorraine Gardens] to install a pedestrian crossover (PXO) on Burnhamthorpe Road between Martin Grove Road and Kipling Avenue. (Attachment No. 1). In view of the scale of that request, staff selected a study area where the majority of pedestrians would most likely cross Burnahamthorpe Road.

Specifically, the area near Echo Valley Road was studied because of the proximity to Echo Valley Park, Our Lady of Peace school, as well as the Toronto Transit Commission bus stops. The traffic studies were conducted in November during the busiest eight-hours of a typical weekday. The results of the above-noted study were presented to Etobicoke Community Council (ECC) in a report dated March 30, 1999. Consideration of this issue was deferred to the April 28, 1999 meeting of the ECC to permit [a resident of Lorraine Gardens] to appear in deputation. The subject ECC report indicated that the technical warrants for the installation of a pedestrian crossover (PXO) or traffic control signals were not met and that the collision records were not indicative of a safety concern. Furthermore, the minimal number of pedestrians crossing Burnhamthorpe Road, combined with the insufficient pavement width, did not justify the installation of a pedestrian refuge island. The subject ECC report recommendations were adopted by ECC. City Council, at it's meeting of May 11, and 12, 1999, referred the recommendations back to ECC for further consideration.

Since the time of the aforementioned study, the Transportation Services Division has received requests related to the installation of traffic control signals on Burnhamthorpe Road in the vicinity of Lorraine Gardens. The requests are outlined below.

On June 22, 1999, our department received a request from [a resident of Lorraine Gardens], dated June 18, 1999, to review an alternate location for a traffic control signal (Attachment 2.). Specifically, [a resident of Lorraine Gardens] requested that "consideration be given to a traffic light at Burnhamthorpe Road and Lorraine Gardens instead of Echo Valley..";

A copy of a letter, dated June 11, 1999, from Mr. Alan Speed, Fire Chief, Toronto Fire Services, to Councillor Dick O'Brien indicating support for a "..pedestrian controlled traffic signal light on both sides of Station No. 3¼", based on reducing the "..heightened risks.." that their vehicle crews experience when entering or exiting onto Burnhamthorpe Road (Attachment No. 3; and

A copy of a letter from Mr. Don Boyle, Director of Parks and Recreation Division, dated May 31, 1999, supporting pedestrian activated traffic control signals in the vicinity of the Hydro right-of-way (ROW), between Lorraine Gardens and Echo Valley Road (Attachment No. 4.). The subject letter was in response to a request from Mr. Paul McGregor to comment on the need for the subject installation.

Discussion:

Burnhamthorpe Road and Echo Valley Road and Botfield Avenue

For reference purposes, the key technical study results of our previous report, outlined in the March 30, 1999, ECC report, are summarized below. Additional studies were conducted during the month of June, 1999 and have been summarized for relative comparison.

Pedestrian Crossover Warrant Study

Warrant 1

Compliance

Notes:

For a pedestrian crossover to be numerically warranted, both the "Pedestrian Volume" and "Pedestrian Delays" must be satisfied 100%See discussion below

During the June 24, 1999 study, the number of pedestrians crossing Burnhamthorpe Road in the vicinity of Echo Valley Road and Botfield Avenue during the noon and afternoon periods were dramatically higher than those recorded in previous studies, and the vast majority of pedestrians appeared to be using Echo Valley Road to access Echo Valley Park. In view of these anomalous results, we conducted a pedestrian crossing study on Monday June 28, 1999 during comparable weather conditions. The study period was between 12:15 p.m. and 1:30 p.m., and 2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. The following table compares the pedestrian volumes recorded during all of the studies since 1996 within the time periods, as well as the volumes noted during the morning period:

Time Period

Pedestrian Crossing Volume

As shown in the table above, the results of our June 28, 1999 study indicate that pedestrian crossing volumes are comparable to those recorded during the November 2, 1998 study, as well as the May 22, 1996 studies. Furthermore, the results of the June 24, 1999 morning period study are consistent with previous studies. In view of these results, it is evident that there were unusual circumstances during the noontime and afternoon peak periods of the June 24, 1999 study. Therefore, it would be prudent to undertake additional studies before any recommendations are made regarding the installation of a pedestrian crossover or traffic control signals on Burnhamthorpe Road at Echo Valley Road and Botfield Avenue.

 A review of the collision records provided by the Toronto Police Service for the five-year period ending May 31, 1998, revealed that one collision has been reported involving a pedestrian on this section of Burnhamthorpe Road. There were no charges laid in connection with this collision.

Traffic Control Signal Warrant Study (November, 1998)

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.

Radar Speed Study

The posted speed limit on this section of Burnhamthorpe Road is 50 km/h.

The 85th percentile speed is the speed, at or below which, 85% of the vehicles are travelling and typically reflects the speed at which motorists are comfortable driving under prevailing roadway conditions.

We will forward our speed study results to the Toronto Police Service with a request for enforcement.

Burnhamthorpe Road and Lorraine Gardens

Lorraine Gardens is a two-lane residential street and forms a "T" intersection with Burnhamthorpe Road from the north (Attachment No. 5). There are no Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) bus stops at this location. The nearest TTC bus stop (eastbound on Burnhamthorpe Rd.) is located approximately 105 metres west of Lorraine Gardens at Ashbourne Drive. Discussions with TTC staff indicate that the subject bus stop services approximately 70 passengers, which board and alight throughout the day and evening periods. TTC staff have not observed any problems related to pedestrians crossing Burnhamthorpe Road in the area of the bus stop.

Olivet Church is located on the north side of Burnhamthorpe Road, immediately east of Lorraine Gardens. Discussions with church staff revealed that the church operates a school which services 40 students from the junior kindergarten to grade 8 level. A Firehall driveway (Station No. 3) is located on the south side of Burnhamthorpe Road approximately 22 metres west of the centreline of Lorraine Gardens.

Staff conducted a traffic control signal warrant analysis at the intersection of Burnhamthorpe Road and Lorraine Gardens on June 24, 1999. The results of that study are outlined in the following table:

 Traffic Control Signal Warrant Study - Lorraine Gardens

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 were potentially preventable by the installation of traffic control signals. Collision statistics provided by the Toronto Police Service revealed that there have been no potentially preventable collisions at the intersection of Burnhamthorpe Road and Lorraine Gardens and no collisions have occurred involving pedestrians during the three-year period ending May 31, 1998.

[A resident of Lorraine Gardens] indicated that a number of pedestrian related collisions have occurred in the vicinity of the Firehall driveway, have been reported by residents that live on Burnhamthorpe Road. Our records indicate that there have been no reportable pedestrian collisions, which have occurred at this location with the five-year period ending December 31, 1998.

During our study, we observed 10 pedestrians crossing Burnhamthorpe Road during an 8-hour period in the vicinity of Lorraine Gardens. We recognize that at the time of our study, the school component of Olivet Church was closed for the summer. However, if we added the existing student population of Olivet Church (40 students), crossing both ways on Burnhamthorpe Road, to the number of pedestrians recorded crossing during our study period, the minimum pedestrian crossing volume would be 50 pedestrians. If we considered installing a PXO, this value would fall significantly short of the values required to satisfy the minimum pedestrian crossing volume. The minimum technical requirement for the installation of a pedestrian crossover is 200 pedestrian crossings during the busiest 8 hours of a typical day. Similarly, if we added the number of passengers boarding and alighting at the eastbound and westbound TTC bus stops near Ashbourne Drive (70 passengers and 64 passengers respectively), the total number pedestrian crossings (including Olivet Church) would be in the order of 184 pedestrians, still below the warrant values.

Moreover, even if this requirement was met, a second requirement would be applied which considers how many pedestrians were delayed more than ten seconds before being able to complete their crossing. The number of delayed pedestrians required varies depending on the total volume of pedestrians counted. Both of these requirements must be met for a pedestrian crossover to be considered technically warranted.

Our department also examined the relative (approximate) walking distances to key intersections, the results of which are outlined below:

Lorraine Gardens to Echo Valley Road - 230 metres

Echo Valley Road to Kipling Avenue - 200 metres

Our Lady of Peace School to Echo Valley Road - 420 metres

Lorraine Gardens to Martin Grove Road - 280 metres

 Assuming that the vast majority of the pedestrian crossings are destined to/from Echo Valley Park, and that traffic control signals are installed at the intersection of Burnhamthorpe Road and Lorraine Gardens, the distance for a pedestrian, to walk one-way from Echo Valley Road to Lorraine Gardens would be approximately 230 metres (or an approximate 3 minute walk). This contrasts to a walking distance of approximately 200 metres (30 metres less), which would be required to reach the signalized intersection of Burnhamthorpe Road and Kipling Avenue. Furthermore, an additional walking distance of approximately 370 metres (5 minute walk) would be required from Lorraine Gardens to Echo Valley Park.

In view of the aforementioned, from a walking distance perspective, it would not be practical to install traffic control signals at Lorraine Gardens to serve pedestrians walking to/from Echo Valley Park.

3) Installation of Traffic Control Signals at the Firehall Driveway

[A resident of Lorraine Gardens] indicated that "the greatest benefit of having a traffic light at Lorraine Gardens, would be the reduction in response time by the fire department..". Station No. 3 is located on the south side of Burnhamthorpe Road, immediately west of Lorraine Gardens.

[A resident of Lorraine Gardens] also indicated that eastbound vehicles "¼gain speed and at times are unable to stop safely in time. This contributes to an approximately 30 second delay in response times as trucks need to wait for cars to stop (as reported by fire fighters who work at the station)." Discussions with Firehall staff revealed that it typically takes between 30 seconds and one minute between the time when the initial emergency call is received and the time that the fire trucks are ready to depart the Firehall.

The copy of the letter received from the Toronto Fire Services indicates support for a "..pedestrian controlled traffic signal light on both sides of Station No.3¼", based on reducing the "..heightened risks.." that their vehicle crews experience when entering or exiting onto Burnhamthorpe Road. The Transportation Services Division was not previously notified by the Toronto Fire Service of any safety concerns related to traffic operations in this area. Further discussions with Toronto Fire Service staff revealed that although they would have no objection to the installation of traffic control signals, which would benefit their operations, emergency response times are presently not hampered by traffic flow on Burnhamthorpe Road in front of Station No. 3.

The Transportation Services Division reviewed the feasibility of incorporating the Firehall driveway within the traffic control signal at Lorraine Gardens, as well as installing traffic control signals only at the Firehall driveway. The results of our preliminary feasibility review are as follows:

Incorporating the Firehall driveway within the traffic control signal at Lorraine Gardens

Based on staff's preliminary review there are a number of design-related issues regarding the installation of a traffic control signal, which is intended to service both vehicle and pedestrian demand at Lorraine Gardens, as well as provide safe egress for fire trucks during an alarm response call. Namely, the most significant issue is the offset between Lorraine Gardens and the Firehall driveway.

The Firehall driveway is approximately 24 metres wide and Lorraine Gardens is located approximately 22 metres east of the Firehall driveway (measured centreline to centreline). This spacing poses a number of functional and operational concerns. Specifically, in order to stop eastbound traffic on Burnhamthorpe Road, prior to the Firehall driveway, a traffic signal pole would have to be located in the area within the existing Firehall driveway. This would require extensive civil modifications to the driveway and would result in a notable reduction in the usable driveway area.

An alternate location for traffic control signals on the south side of Burnhamthorpe Road (facing eastbound traffic) could be on the east side of the Firehall driveway closer to Lorraine Gardens. However, this configuration would not provide the Firehall with the benefit of stopping eastbound traffic and may, in fact, create more difficulty for Fire trucks exiting the Firehall since eastbound vehicles may potentially be queued within the driveway area. Discussions with Firehall staff confirmed that this arrangement could be problematic for trucks exiting the Firehall during an emergency call.

Installing traffic control signals only at the Firehall driveway.

Staff also considered installing traffic control signals in front of the Firehall driveway, including provisions for pedestrian crossings, but without including Lorraine Gardens. The most significant design issue related to this type of installation would be the location of the traffic signal equipment facing westbound traffic. Presently the offset between the west curb of Lorraine Gardens and the east curb of the Firehall driveway does not provide an area sufficient to install a westbound stop bar without infringing into the Firehall driveway area.

Notwithstanding this preliminary feasibility review, should Council see fit to approve a traffic control signal at this location, additional detailed design would be required to identify specific operational and design impacts, as well as cost implications.

Burnhamthorpe Road within the Hydro Right-of-Way

Further to a copy of a letter from Mr. Don Boyle, Director of Parks and Recreation Division, dated May 31, 1999, supporting pedestrian activated traffic control signals in the vicinity of the Hydro right-of-way (ROW), between Lorraine Gardens and Echo Valley Road, Transportation staff requested that additional information be provided by the Parks and Recreation Division:

Identify more specific location for traffic control signals;

Identify origins of residents complaints;

Number of pedestrians and time periods of pedestrian demand through hydro right-of-way; and

Identify other similar locations with traffic control signals

In dealings with the Parks and Recreation Division, it appears that this data is not available, and the intent of the letter was that it would be nice to have traffic control signals at this location. However, they would not be a "priority" item.

It should be noted that when field staff conduct traffic studies, it is typical to observe various traffic operation characteristics, such as unusually heavy pedestrian crossings, unsafe vehicle manoeuvres, etc.. Accordingly, although our department has not conducted a formal study within the area of the Hydro right-of-way proper, our pedestrian observations in the vicinity of Echo Valley Road/Botfield Avenue, as well as Lorraine Gardens, revealed only a nominal pedestrian crossing demand in those areas.

Conclusions:

Based on the June 24, 1999 study results, the technical warrants for the installation of a pedestrian crossover are met at the intersection of Burnhamthorpe Road and Echo Valley Road/Botfield Avenue. However, due to the dramatic differences between these study results and our previous studies, our department is prepared to restudy this section of Burnhamthorpe Road in the year 2000.

Based on our June 24, 1999 study results, traffic control signals are not technically warranted at the intersection of Burnhamthorpe Road and Lorraine Gardens.

Notwithstanding the June 24, 1999 pedestrian crossing study results at Echo Valley Road and Botfield Avenue, staff observations and studies indicate that the pedestrian crossing demand on Burnhamthorpe Road within the subject areas is minimal and that the majority of pedestrians that do cross, appear do so in a safe manner without conflicting with vehicular traffic on Burnhamthorpe Road. This is supported by our review of the Toronto Police Service collision records which indicates that the pedestrian collision record on Burnhamthorpe Road within the subject areas is not indicative of a safety problem.

The subject requests for pedestrian crossing protection have been studied by staff on an individual basis, using established traffic engineering methods and principles, which have been applied without bias and in as consistent a manner as possible. Permitting the installation of a device, which is not warranted, compromizes the integrity of the warrants, as well as the device and sets an undesirable precedent for future installations.

Contact Name:

Dominic Gulli, Manager, Traffic Operations - District 2

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

John W. Thomas, P.Eng., MBA

Director, Transportation Services - District 2

Attachments

cc: Street File - Burnhamthorpe Road