March 3, 1999
To:Urban Environment and Development Committee
From:General Manager, Transportation Services
Subject:Proposed Installation of Traffic Control Signals
Lawrence Avenue East and East Avenue/Rouge Hill GO Station Access
Scarborough Highland Creek: Councillors Frank Faubert and Ron Moeser
Purpose:
To obtain approval for the installation of traffic control signals at the intersection of Lawrence
Avenue East and East Avenue/Rouge Hill GO Station Access.
Funding Sources:
The funds associated with new traffic control signal installations are contained in the
Transportation Services Division's Capital Program under Project No. C-TR031. Total
funding in this program is $1.6 million for 1999. The estimated cost of installing traffic
control signals at the intersection of Lawrence Avenue East and East Avenue/Rouge Hill GO
Station Access is $76,500.00.
Recommendation:
It is recommended that traffic control signals be approved at the intersection of Lawrence
Avenue East and East Avenue/Rouge Hill GO Station Access.
Council Reference/Background History:
At the request of Councillor Moeser, Transportation Services staff investigated the
intersection of Lawrence Avenue East and East Avenue/Rouge Hill GO Station Access to
determine if a pedestrian crossing device could be provided.
Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:
Lawrence Avenue East, in the vicinity of East Avenue, is a minor arterial road with a speed
limit of 60 km/h and a two-way 24 hour traffic volume of approximately 6,200. At East
Avenue/Rouge Hill GO Station Access, there is an eastbound and a westbound left-turn lane.
Adjacent traffic control signals are located on Lawrence Avenue East, 400 metres to the west
at Port Union Road. GO Train commuter parking lots are located on both the north and south
sides of Lawrence Avenue East. The driveway to the Rouge Hill GO Station on the south side
of Lawrence Avenue East is directly in line with East Avenue, and provides access to the
parking lot as well as a turning loop for picking-up and dropping-off passengers. To the east
of this driveway, Toronto Transit Commission buses loop at an off-street facility immediately
south of Lawrence Avenue East.
A pedestrian crossover (PXO) warrant study revealed a pedestrian crossing volume of 1413 in
the peak eight hours of a normal weekday. Of these 1413 pedestrians, 216 were delayed more
than ten seconds before they could complete their crossing. Based on this information, both
the pedestrian volume and the pedestrian delay warrants for a PXO are 100 percent satisfied.
Therefore, the installation of a PXO is technically warranted.
Staff evaluated this location for a potential PXO according to guidelines that were developed
for the "Audit of Operational and Physical Suitability of Pedestrian Crossovers in Toronto".
The Provincial standards and the comparative characteristics at this location are described in
more detail below:
| Standards or Criteria to be Met
for Physical Suitability of a PXO |
Met/
NotMet |
Comment |
| Vehicle operating speed less than 60 km/h |
Not Met |
85th percentile speed is 64 km/h |
| Not more than four lanes wide on a two-way
street,
or more than three lanes on a one-way street |
Not Met |
Five lanes
|
| Traffic volume less than 35,000
vehicles per day (total both directions) |
Met |
6,200 vehicles per day
|
| No driveway entrances within 30 metres |
Not Met |
Go Station driveway would be
adjacent to the PXO |
| No significant volume of turning movements
which interfere with PXO |
Not Met |
Turning movements to and from
the Rouge Hill Go Station |
| No visibility problems exist for either
pedestrians or motorists |
Met |
No Visibility problems |
| No loading zones (including T.T.C.)
in the immediate vicinity |
Met |
T.T.C. turning loop is off-street |
| Not less than 215 metres to another
PXO or traffic device |
Met |
400 metres to Port Union Road |
As described above this potential PXO site fails to meet four of the "environmental
standards". Specifically, the operating speed (85th percentile) on Lawrence Avenue East is
above 60 km/h, Lawrence Avenue East, is more than four lanes wide, the Rouge Hill Go
Station driveway would be immediately adjacent to the PXO, and turning movements occur to
and from the driveway and East Avenue. The collision records provided by the Toronto Police
Service for the three year and five month period ending May 31, 1998 revealed that there were
no pedestrian-related collisions during this period.
Given the failure to meet a four of the key "environmental standards", staff feel that traffic
control signals would provide the best form of crossing control and are recommended for this
location.
Staff have contacted the Ward Councillors and both Councillors Faubert and Moeser have
voiced support for the proposed installation of the traffic control signals at this location.
Conclusions:
The installation of a PXO is warranted on Lawrence Avenue East and East Avenue/Rouge
Hill GO Station access. However, because of the failure of this location to meet the
"environment standards" for the installation of a PXO, traffic control signals will provide for a
safer crossing environment and should be installed at this location.
Contact Name and Telephone Number:
Peter K. Hillier
Manager, Traffic Operations, District 4
(416) 396-7148
David C. Kaufman
General Manager, Transportation Services
Barry H. Gutteridge
Commissioner, Works and Emergency Services
BDC:ca/wo
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