August 19, 1999
To:Toronto Community Council
From:Andrew Koropeski, Director, Transportation Services, District 1
Subject:St. Clements Avenue, from Avenue Road to Caldow Road - Installation of speed humps (North Toronto)
Purpose:
To respond to a request from the Toronto Community Council for a report on the feasibility of installing speed humps on
the subject section of St. Clements Avenue.
Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
The estimated cost for this proposal is $18,000.00, funds for which are available in the Works and Emergency Services
1999 Capital Budget.
Recommendations:
(1)That approval be given to alter sections of the roadway on St. Clements Avenue, from Avenue Road to Caldow Road
for traffic calming purposes as described below, with implementation subject to the favourable results of polling of the
affected 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 ST. CLEMENTS AVENUE,
from Avenue Road to Castlewood Road and ST. CLEMENTS
AVENUE, from Castlewood Road to Caldow Road generally
as shown on the attached prints of Drawings Nos. 42IF-5414 and
42IF- 5428 dated June 1999 and July 1999, respectively.";
(2)That the speed limit be reduced from forty kilometres per hour to thirty kilometres per hour on St. Clements Avenue,
from Avenue Road to Caldow Road coincident with the implementation of the traffic calming measures and as legislation
permits; and
(3)That the appropriate City Officials be authorized and directed to take whatever action is necessary to implement the
foregoing, including the introduction in Council of any Bills that might be required.
Background:
Toronto Community Council, at its meeting of December 9, 1998, in considering a communication (November 24, 1998)
from Councillor Anne Johnston, requested that Transportation Services report on the feasibility of installing speed humps
on St. Clements Avenue, from Castlewood Road to Caldow Road.
Comments:
As a result of the above - noted request from the Toronto Community Council, as well as a request from North Toronto
Councillor Michael Walker to investigate the feasibility of installing speed humps on St. Clements Avenue, from Avenue
Road to Castlewood Road, Transportation Services has reviewed the entire section of St. Clements Avenue, from Avenue
Road to Caldow Road.
St. Clements Avenue, from Avenue Road to Caldow Road, operates two-way on a pavement width of 8.5 metres with a
maximum speed limit of 40 kilometres per hour.
Transportation Services' staff recently conducted a 24-hour speed and volume surveys on St. Clements Avenue over a
four-day period. The results of the survey on the section of St. Clements Avenue, between Avenue Road and Castlewood
Road, revealed a daily combined total of 1,762 vehicles in both directions during this period, of which 1,260 (72 percent)
travelled at a rate of speed of 55 kilometres per hour or less and 502 (28 percent) travelled at a rate of speed in excess of 55
kilometres per hour. The combined average operating speed (the speed at or below which 85 percent of the vehicles
travelled) over the four- day period was 59 kilometres per hour with an average speed of 48 kilometres per hour.
The results of the survey on the section of St. Clements Avenue, between Castlewood Road and Caldow Road revealed a
daily combined total of 1,132 vehicles in both directions during this period, of which 1036 (92 percent) travelled at a rate
of speed of 55 kilometres per hour or less and 96 (8 percent) travelled at a rate of speed in excess of 55 kilometres per
hour. The speed at which 85 percent of the vehicles travelled for the period was 52 kilometres per hour with an average
speed of 42 kilometres per hour.
The traffic calming proposal for the section of St. Clements Avenue, between Avenue Road and Castlewood Road, as
illustrated on the attached print of Drawing No. 42IF-5414 dated June 1999, consists of six speed humps, while the traffic
calming proposal for the section of St. Clements Avenue, between Castlewood Road and Caldow Road, as illustrated on
the attached print of Drawing No. 42IF-5428 dated July 1999, consists of four speed humps. A speed limit reduction to 30
kilometres per hour would be appropriate. No impacts on parking are anticipated, no changes to parking regulations are
required, and the effects on snow removal, street cleaning and garbage collection should be minimal.
As stipulated in the Policy, once it has been determined that speed hump installation is technically warranted, a formal poll
should be conducted of adults (18 years and older) of households directly abutting the affected section of the street, and
also households on sidestreets whose only access is
from the street under consideration for speed hump installations. Under this policy, at least 60 percent of those responding
should be in favour of the proposal to authorize implementation. Accordingly, subject to the recommendations noted above
being approved, staff will conduct a poll of residents and report on the results at the deputation meeting for the project.
The changes proposed to the subject section of St. Clements Avenue, as described above, constitute an alteration to a
public highway pursuant to the provisions of the Municipal Act. 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. In the interim, consultations with the emergency services will be undertaken to ensure that the detailed
design does not unduly hamper their respective operations. However, the introduction of speed humps would result in
slower operating speeds for all vehicles, including emergency vehicles, resulting in increased response times.
This project is pre-approved in accordance with Schedule A of the Class Environmental Assessment for the Municipal
Roads Project.
Contact Name and Telephone Number:
Randy Hillis, Traffic Investigator, 392-7771
Director
Attachment
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