November 15, 1999
To: North York Community Council
From: Roberto Stopnicki, Director, Transportation Services, District 3
Subject: Traffic Calming: Donwoods Drive
North York Centre South
Purpose:
To review a request from residents of Donwoods Drive for traffic calming measures.
Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
The installation of traffic calming measures is covered under the Transportation Division's operating budget.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that traffic calming, in the form of speed humps, not be installed on Donwoods Drive.
Background:
In March of this year, this Division responded to a request from residents of Donwoods Drive, to install speed humps to
address a speeding problem on their street.
Several speed and volume studies had been undertaken, to quantify the concerns expressed by the residents. The volumes
counted were as follows:
| DATE |
DIRECTION |
A.M. PEAK
HOUR |
P.M. PEAK
HOUR |
24 Hrs. |
| May 16, 1996 |
EB
WB |
35
9 |
63
14 |
600
107 |
| October 20, 1998 |
EB
WB |
54
14 |
61
13 |
624
107 |
| February 17, 1999 |
EB
WB |
51
15 |
63
10 |
618
98 |
The 85th percentile speeds, in km/h, which were recorded during the study periods, were as follows:
| DATE |
DIRECTION |
A.M. PEAK
HOUR |
P.M. PEAK
HOUR |
24 Hrs. |
| May 16, 1996 |
EB
WB |
54
26 |
54
47 |
51
46 |
| October 20, 1998 |
EB
WB |
44
32 |
42
24 |
44
43 |
| February 17, 1999 |
EB
WB |
43
28 |
50
32 |
44
41 |
Four collisions were reported along the entire section of Donwoods Drive, between January 1, 1996, and December 31,
1998. The study also indicated that the grade of the pavement on Downwoods Drive, at certain locations exceeded 10%.
Considering the relatively low volume of vehicular traffic and the observed speeds, staff recommended against the
installation of traffic calming measures.
Subsequently, the residents forwarded a "study tour" of the area, conducted by Marshall Macklin Monaghan, a consulting
firm, which suggested a number of possible measures which could be implemented to address speeding problems in the
community. While the report summarizes various applications of speed control, similar to the ones considered by staff in
reviews of traffic calming options, it does not undertake a review of observed operating speeds, to determine the need to
install traffic calming on Donwoods Drive.
Conclusions:
Observed vehicular traffic volumes on Downwoods Drive do not indicate that there is a traffic infiltration problem in the
area. Operating speeds are at or below the posted speed limit, with the exception of the peak hours, where in the P.M. peak
hour, they are slightly above the posted speed limit. These findings, as well as the steep grade of the pavement, do not
support the need for traffic calming on Donwoods Drive.
Contact:
Allen Pinkerton
Manager, Traffic Operations, District 3
Telephone: 395-7463
Facsimile: 395-7482
E-mail: ajpinker@city.north-york.on.ca
Roberto Stopnicki
Director
RS/va
C:\in\it002
Attachments:
Map: Donwoods Drive Traffic Calming
