March 12, 1999

To:Toronto Community Council

From:Andrew Koropeski, Director, Transportation Services, District 1

Subject:Marchmount Road between Shaw Street and Ossington Avenue - Request for Speed Hump Poll (Davenport - Ward 21)

Purpose:

To report on the results of speed and volume surveys on Marchmount Road between Shaw Street and Ossington Avenue.

Funding Source, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:

Should a speed hump installation on Marchmount Road between Shaw Street and Ossington Avenue be approved, funds to implement the work in the estimated amount of $4,500 could be accommodated within the Transportation Services Division Capital Budget.

Recommendation:

That this report be received for information.

Background:

City Council at its meeting of March 2, 3 and 4, 1999 adopted Clause No. 38 of Toronto Community Council Report No. 4 entitled, "Installation of Speed Humps - Shaw Street from Marchmount Road to Wychcrest Avenue", and in doing so, recommended that staff be authorized to undertake a speed hump poll of residents on Marchmount Road between Shaw Street and Ossington Avenue.

Comments:

In response to a memorandum from Davenport Councillor Betty Disero dated August 19, 1997, considered at the City Services Committee meeting of September 3, 1997, Works staff were requested to investigate the feasibility of installing speed humps on Shaw Street from Dupont Street to Davenport Road and on Marchmount Road from Shaw Street to Ossington Avenue, to reduce vehicle speeds.

The portion of Shaw Street, between Wychcrest Avenue and Marchmount Road, met the primary criteria for the installation of speed humps and residents of the street will be polled within the next two month period to determine the level of support for the proposed installation.

Marchmount Road from Shaw Street to Ossington Avenue has a pavement width of 8.6 metres, a maximum speed limit of 40 kilometres per hour, and a two way traffic operation. The following regulations are in effect on this block:

North Side

• The permit parking system operates from 12:01 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. daily, and parking is otherwise allowed for a maximum period of three hours.

South Side

• Parking is prohibited at all times.

Twenty-four hour speed and volume surveys conducted on Marchmount Road between Shaw Street and Ossington Avenue in February 1997 recorded approximately 400 vehicles per day on this section of street. Of those vehicles recorded, approximately 11% exceeded the posted speed limit of 40 kilometres per hour by 10 kilometres per hour or less, while 1% travelled in excess of 10 kilometres per hour over the limit.

Under the terms of the current Speed Hump Policy adopted by City Council on August 21, 1997 there are five primary criteria that must be met in order for a speed hump installation to be considered on a street. One of the criteria requires that the street under consideration have a minimum volume of 1,000 vehicles per day. As noted above Marchmount Road carries approximately 400 vehicles per day. In a letter to Councillor Disero dated February 9, 1998 which was also before Toronto Community Council, the results of the evaluation for both Shaw Street and Marchmount Road were reported and it was noted that while a portion of Shaw Street met the primary criteria for speed hump installation, Marchmount Road with only 400 cars a day and no significant speeding problem, did not meet the criteria.

Currently there are approximately fifty outstanding requests for speeding investigations, several of which may result in the implementation of speed humps as the method of traffic calming. As noted above, all requests are evaluated against existing criteria under the Speed Hump Policy, which requires as one of the criteria, that the street under evaluation carry a minimum volume of 1,000 vehicles per day. This volume criterion was established following analyses of speed hump policies in other parts of Canada and internationally and was deemed to be the minimum standard required for speed humps to be an effective traffic calming measure. It has been followed in all previous installations in Toronto.

Notwithstanding the above, should Toronto Community Council decide to recommend a speed hump installation on the subject section of Marchmount Road, then the following recommendations should be adopted:

1. That approval be given to alter sections of the roadway on Marchmount Road from Shaw Street to Ossington Avenue for traffic calming purposes as described below, with implementation subject to favourable results of the polling of residents pursuant to the policy related to speed hump installation as adopted by the former City of Toronto Council:

"The construction of speed humps on MARCHMOUNT ROAD from Shaw Street to Ossington Avenue, generally as shown on the attached print of Drawing No. 421F-5339, dated March, 1999";

2. That the speed limit be reduced from 40 kilometres per hour to 30 kilometres per hour on Marchmount Road from Shaw Street to Ossington Avenue coincident with the implementation of speed humps; and

3. That the appropriate City Officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to implement the foregoing, including the introduction in Council of any Bills that may be required.

A suitable speed hump plan for this block would consist of 3 speed humps as shown on the attached print of Drawing No. 421F-5339 dated March, 1999.

Under the terms of the Speed Hump Policy it is a requirement that residents be polled to determine the level of support for the installation of speed humps. Once it has been determined that speed hump installation is technically warranted, a formal City poll should be conducted of adults (18 years and older) of households directly abutting the affected street, and also households on side streets whose only access is from the street under consideration for speed hump installation. At least 60% of valid responses returned should support the plan in order to authorize the installation.

The changes to Marchmount Road as set out above would constitute alterations to a public highway pursuant to the provisions of the Municipal Act.

Accordingly, the intent of Council to enact a by-law to authorize any physical changes resulting in the alteration of the pavement configuration must be advertised and subsequently be subject to a public hearing. It is noted that emergency services are being advised of the proposal to ensure that the detailed design does not unduly hamper their operations.

This project would be pre-approved in accordance with Schedule A of the Class Environmental Assessment for Municipal Roads Projects.

Contact Name and Telephone Number

Erin Holl, Transportation Operations Co-ordinator

392-7892

Director

EH/eh

Attach.

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