STAFF REPORT
October 18, 1999
To: East York Community Council
From: Andrew Koropeski, Director, Transportation Services, District 1
Subject: Traffic Operations - Krawchuk Lane
(East York)
Purpose:
To report, as requested by East York Community Council, on the impacts of various traffic operational changes to
Krawchuk Lane.
Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
There are no financial implications as a result of the recommendations of this report.
Recommendation:
It is recommended that this report be received for information.
Background:
East York Community Council, at its meeting of July 15, 1999, under Clause No. 6(d) of Report No. 8, requested the
Director, Transportation Services to submit a report with respect to:
(1) the possible traffic controls which could be implemented on Krawchuk Lane such as one-way, turn restrictions and
traffic claming measures;
(2) the traffic volume on Krawchuk Lane;
(3) in consultation with the City Solicitor, as appropriate, the feasibility of installing a sidewalk on Krawchuk Lane and
who would be obliged to pay for such installation;
(4) the Acting Commissioner of Urban Planning and Development Services, in consultation with the City Solicitor, and
Director, Transportation Services, as appropriate, to submit a report with respect to the original proposal submitted by the
developer for the townhouse development on Krawchuk Lane and the site plan approved by the former Borough of East
York;
(5) the developer of Krawchuk Lane townhouse development be requested to appear before the East York Community
Council when this matter is considered; and
(6) the residents of Malcolm Road and Krawchuk Lane, including officials at Canada Post, be notified of the East York
Community Council's action in this regard and invited to attend future meetings when this matter is considered.
This report is also further to a public meeting attended by residents of Krawchuk Lane, Canada Post Corporation and
residents of Malcolm Road which was held after the July 15, 1999, East York Community Council meeting. This meeting
was held to allow residents and Canada Post to further outline their positions and determine what further information was
required.
Comments:
In general, staff have been requested to analyze various changes to the operation of Krawchuk Lane in order to reduce
vehicular traffic volumes as well as minimize the perceived disruption by Canada Post vehicles to residents who front onto
Krawchuk Lane. The following paragraphs highlight the results of our investigation.
Traffic Volumes
Recent traffic counts conducted by the Transportation Services Division indicate that approximately 100 vehicles use
Krawchuk Lane in front of the townhome development over a 24-hour period of a typical weekday. This count was
conducted in September, after the school year had begun as requested by Krawchuk Lane residents. The 85th percentile
speed at this location was approximately 30 km/hr.
Speed Bumps
The former Borough of East York did not have a policy for the installation of speed bumps in public lanes. Accordingly
there have been no speed humps installed in public lanes in the East York Community. However, like a myriad of other
issues, practices with respect to speed bump installations in public lanes have varied amongst the former municipalities
now comprising the City of Toronto. These practices tended to evolve around local circumstances. For example, in the
former Toronto area, criteria included meeting one of the following:
(a) observed average vehicular speeds in the lane or lane system are in excess of 20 kilometres per hour;
(b) there is an observed predominant pedestrian use of the lane or lane system; or
(c) recorded volumes of vehicular traffic are on a continual basis in excess of 100 vehicles daily in the lane or lane system.
If this were applied to Krawchuk Lane, speed bumps would be a consideration. It should be noted, however, that the
volumes recorded are relatively low, as is the speed profile.
Should East York Community Council wish to consider the installation of speed bumps on Krawchuk Lane, staff would
prepare a subsequent report outlining the design and location of the speed bumps and recommend that further public
consultation be conducted to allow affected residents and businesses an opportunity to review the proposed installations.
Subsequent to this, staff recommend that an official poll be conducted by the Clerks Department and that the results be
reported back to East York Community Council.
One-Way Traffic Operation
One-way traffic operation has been suggested as a means of reducing the traffic volume across the frontage of the
townhomes on Krawchuk Lane. The following points highlight the expected impacts of introducing one-way northbound or
southbound traffic operation on Krawchuk Lane:
Northbound
(a) Residents of 928 Millwood Road, a multi residential complex adjacent to the townhome development, which has above
and below ground parking access from Krawchuk Lane, would be forced to modify their routes to and from the parking
area. Residents would be required to access Krawchuk Lane from Millwood Road and drive in front of the townhomes.
(b) Stanley Cleaners, located at the corner of Millwood Road and Randolph Road provides customer parking and loading
facilities via Krawchuk Lane. Northbound one-way traffic operation would significantly impact the access ability of
customers, staff and delivery vehicles.
(c) At the recent public meeting, some Malcolm Road residents stated that they use Krawchuk Lane and the Post Office
parking lot as a means of accessing their homes, given that Malcolm Road operates one-way northbound. Implementing a
one-way northbound operation on Krawchuk Lane would force these residents to access Malcolm Road from Millwood
Road.
(d) One-way northbound operation would restrict the ability of Post Office vehicles that currently use Krawchuk Lane as an
access to southbound Laird Drive, via Millwood Road.
Southbound
(a) Residents of 928 Millwood Road would be forced to modify their routes to and from their parking area. Residents
would be required to access Krawchuk Lane from Randolph Road and exit via Millwood Road, and drive in front of the
townhomes.
(b) Southbound one-way traffic operation would not be as significant a disruption for Stanley Cleaners given that motorists
could still access the loading and parking areas from Randolph Road. We would anticipate that compliance with the
one-way operation would be low and that the majority of motorists would violate the one-way operation and exit
Krawchuk Lane via Randolph Road.
In general, there is no guarantee that either northbound or southbound one-way operation would reduce traffic volumes
across the frontage of the townhome development. Traffic counts conducted on Krawchuk Lane, just south of Randolph
Road indicate approximately 150 vehicles use Krawchuk Lane in this area during a 24-hour period. In all likelihood, traffic
volumes are higher on this section of Krawchuk Lane than across from the townhome development as a result of motorists
preferring to enter and exit Stanley Cleaners and 928 Millwood Road via Randolph Road as opposed to Millwood Road.
Partial One-Way Operation - Southbound
Staff have investigated the feasibility of implementing a one-way southbound operation on Krawchuk Lane from the south
limit of the Post Office access to Millwood Road and conclude that this operation provides some benefit to townhome
residents while minimizing the inconvenience to residents of 928 Millwood Road, Stanley Cleaners and the Post Office.
This operation would provide for 2-way traffic north of the Post Office access, while eliminating vehicular access to
Krawchuk Lane from Millwood Road. Motorists that currently access Krawchuk Lane from Millwood Road would be
required to access the lane from Randolph Road. A recent traffic count did not indicate any vehicles accessing the post
office from Millwood Road.
An official poll of affected residents should be conducted prior to the implementation of partial one-way southbound
operation. It should be noted that motorists who currently access Krawchuk Lane from eastbound Millwood Road would be
required to alter their travel patterns prior to the intersection of Southvale Drive and Millwood Road since the eastbound
left turn is prohibited at this intersection.
Feasibility of Installing a Sidewalk
Krawchuk Lane is approximately 6.0 metres wide. A 1.0 metre wide sidewalk could be installed across the frontage of the
townhomes and still provide for 2-way traffic movements in the lane. The cost of installing a sidewalk is estimated to be
$5000.00 and, since the sidewalk was not part of the original development agreement, the construction costs would be
borne by the City. It is staff's opinion that a sidewalk is not warranted given the low traffic volumes and speed of vehicles
using the laneway.
Planning Comments
The development at 930-950 Millwood Road approved by the then Borough of East York Council on July 16, 1997
consisted of 14 on-street and 12 rear lane oriented block townhouses. The staff report reviewing the development proposal
specifically stated that 12 of the townhouses would be oriented towards the rear lane. The plans, as approved, did not
require a public sidewalk in front of the 12 townhouses facing onto the rear lane.
Stop Signs
Councillor Pitfield has requested that stop signs be installed at the intersection of Krawchuk Lane and Millwood Road.
Stop signs are not typically installed at the junction of public lanes and local roads. Motorists are expected to treat these
intersections similar to driveways and come to a complete stop prior to accessing the road. There is no evidence that
motorists are violating the requirement to stop at either the Randolph Road or Millwood Road intersection with Krawchuk
Lane. A raised curb exists at the Millwood Road access which further indicates to motorists that they should stop while the
height of the curb is significant enough to ensure that motorists proceed slowly.
Conclusions:
Krawchuk Lanes meets the criteria of the former City of Toronto for the installation of speed bumps. If East York
Community Council were to consider speed bump installation, staff would prepare a report outlining the design and
location of the speed bumps and recommend that area residents and businesses have an opportunity to review the proposal
prior to an official poll. Alternatively, a portion of Krawchuk Lane could be designated as one-way southbound with
minimal impact to the residents of 928 Millwood, Stanley Cleaners or the Post Office.
Contact:
Peter Bartos, P.Eng.
Manager, Traffic Operations
District 1 - East
392-1799
pbartos@borough.eastyork.on.ca
Director
PB/ah
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