10 June 1999
To:Chairman and Members of the North York Community Council
From:Roberto Stopnicki,
Director of Transportation Services - District 3
Subject:Neighbourhood Traffic Management Plan: Upper Canada Drive
North York Centre South
Purpose:
To terminate the neighbourhood traffic management plan and remove associated traffic control devices on Upper Canada
Drive.
Source of funds:
All costs associated with the termination of the traffic management plan and removal of associated traffic control devices
are included within the 1999 operating budget.
Recommendations:
1.That the two sets of speed cushions on Upper Canada Drive be removed;
2. That By-law No. 31878, of the former City of North York, be amended to delete the 40 km/h zone on Upper Canada
Drive, from Lord Seaton Road (westerly limit) to the easterly limit of Upper Canada Drive; and
3. That Schedule IX of By-law No. 31001, of the former City of North York be amended to the delete "No Stopping at Any
Time" restrictions adjacent to the speed cushions.
Background:
Toronto Council, at its meeting of July, 29/30/31, 1998, approved the implementation of traffic calming measures on
Upper Canada Drive, for a six month trial period.
The residents of Upper Canada Drive, through the local Councillors' offices, frequently indicated their concerns for vehicle
speeds and transient traffic on Upper Canada Drive. Residents were of the opinion that police enforcement of the 50 km/h
speed limit had not been effective in reducing vehicle speeds.
As a result of the continued concerns, a neighbourhood traffic working group was established. The working group, with the
support of the local Councillors, requested the installation of temporary traffic calming measures.
The proposal included the following:
- That two sets of speed cushions be installed on Upper Canada Drive;
- That By-law No. 31878, of the former City of North York, be amended to designate the maximum rate of speed
on Upper Canada Drive, from Lord Seaton Road (westerly limit) to the easterly limit of Upper Canada Drive, at
40 km/h; and
- That Schedule IX of By-law No. 31001, of the former City of North York, be amended to install "No Stopping at
Any Time" restrictions adjacent to the speed humps.
Comments:
The temporary traffic calming measures were installed in December of 1998. Throughout the test period, vehicle speed
studies were completed.
The results of the vehicle speed studies indicate that over a twenty-four hour period, the installation of the speed cushions
resulted in the 85th percentile speed of eastbound and westbound traffic being decreased by 5 km/h to 4 km/h, respectively.
Notwithstanding the above, residents of Upper Canada Drive have expressed concerns that they have observed motorists
driving down the middle of the roadway, between the speed cushions. Staff of the Transportation Services Division
confirmed the residents' concerns as vehicles were observed driving down the centre of the roadway during off peak hours,
when traffic volumes are considerably lower.
Conclusions:
In view of the above, the St. Andrews Traffic Committee has requested that the test of traffic calming on Upper Canada
Drive be discontinued and have requested removal of the traffic calming measures on the roadway.
Contact Name:
Allen Pinkerton, Manager, Traffic Operations - District 3
395-7463 (telephone)
395-7482 (facsimile)
ajpinker@city.north-york.on.ca (e-mail)
Roberto Stopnicki,
Director, Transportation Services - District 3
JS:bcb
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